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Nov. 17, 1930 – Aug. 15, 2024

NATCHEZ – Funeral services for Daisy Patterson “Pat” Brandon Dale, 93, of Natchez, were held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, at Saint Mary Basilica with Father Aaron Williams officiating. Visitation was held from 10 a.m. until service time at the church. Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Mrs. Dale died on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, at her residence. She was born on Nov. 17, 1930, in Natchez, the daughter of Gerard Hamilton Brandon and Kate Doniphan Prichard Brandon.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Wilton Roger Dale; an infant son, David Michael Dale; her parents, and three sisters, Kate Don Brandon Adams Green, Mary Ann Brandon Jones, and Barbara Gerard Brandon Kaiser. She was a devout member of St. Mary Basilica.

A 1948 graduate of Natchez High School, she attended Stephens College in Columbia, MO, and the University of Mississippi in Oxford where she became a member of Chi Omega Sorority. Named “Miss Hospitality” by the City of Natchez in 1950, she represented the city in the state-wide contest in Biloxi and at several other events during that year. Mrs. Dale was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. At the age of 75, she published a book she had written about her memories of growing up in Natchez titled “I Must Have Done Something Good.”  She later transcribed and published, her grandfather’s hand-written account, “The Brandon Family.” At the age of 85, she completed and published a third book titled, Dale & Brandon Family Genealogy and History, encompassing 50 years of her extended family research.

Mrs. Dale was a member of the Pilgrimage Garden Club and served on the Stanton Hall Governing Board for over 60 years, during which time she was twice Chairman and three times Vice-Chairman of the Governing Board. As Co-Chairman of the grounds committee in 1986, the landscape of Stanton Hall was completely renovated with a new driveway, bricked walkways, improved drainage, and a rose garden.

As an organizing member of the William Dunbar Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, she served as Regent and Registrar for many years. Other memberships include the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, the State of Virginia and The Natchez Town Committee of the Colonial Dames of America; The First Families of Mississippi; The Historic Natchez Foundation; The Chi Omega Alumnae Association; and the Garden Lovers of Natchez, a member of the Garden Club of America.

Pat Dale was an avid bridge player, enjoying the companionship of her sisters and many friends at their twice-weekly bridge games. Her favorite hobbies were all types of needle work and in earlier years, tennis and snow skiing.

She was lovingly called Grandmommy by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who loved to play a competitive game of spite and malice with her. She will be remembered for her kind and gentle personality, quick wittedness, infectious laugh, her love of life and as being one of the Brandon sisters.

Survivors include three children, Mary Elizabeth (Betsy) Dale Holleman and husband, John of Natchez, Wilton Roger (Bill) Dale, Jr. and wife Cammie, of Natchez, and Patricia Brandon Dale Roberts and husband, Fred of Healdsburg, CA; Seven grandchildren, Elizabeth Dale Holleman Robertson and husband, Wes of Huntsville, AL, John Courtney Holleman, Jr. and wife, Emily of Richmond, VA, Lindsay Brandon Holleman Penley and husband, Jake of Huntsville, AL, Sara Ashford Dale Thomas and husband, Devin of Jersey City, NJ, Brandon Fredericks  Dale and wife, Lindsay of Nashville, TN, Anna Monette Roberts Chilstedt and husband, Sky of Boulder, CO, Megan Roberts Swagerty and husband, Scott of Dubai, UAE, Patricia Kate Paauwe-Roberts and husband, Dylan of Amelia, Italy; twelve great-grandchildren, Madalyn Elizabeth Penley, James Wilton Robertson, Eleanor Catherine Holleman, Thomas Patterson Robertson, John Courtney (Jack) Holleman, III, Gentry Faye Penley, Wilton Patrick Holleman, Daisy Louise Penley, Reed Chandler Penley, Lucy Brasher Thomas, Mary Louise Holleman, Willow Signe Chilstedt, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by four dear family friends who were attentive and caring in her last years.

Pallbearers will be John Courtney Holleman, Jr., Brandon Fredericks Dale, Wes Robertson, Devin Thomas, Jake Penley, Dylan Paauwe-Roberts, and Sky Chilstedt.

Honorary pallbearers will be her nephews Lawrence Adams, Brandon Adams, Kenny Jones, and Hayden Kaiser.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Mary Basilica, Historic Natchez Foundation, or the charity of one’s choice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.