Dr. Katherine Fokakis Patterson
Dr. Katherine Fokakis Patterson, 47, of Indianola, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022, at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson after a brief illness. A devoted servant of our Lord Jesus Christ and a selfless fellow servant of mankind has passed on to life eternal.
A visitation for the Patterson family will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at First United Methodist Church in Indianola with a funeral service to follow at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary. Burton Funeral Home of Indianola has been entrusted with arrangements.
Katie was born April 10, 1975 in Bryan, Texas, to Mary Virginia Terry Fokakis and Dr. Arthur Nick Fokakis. She graduated from Hattiesburg High School in 1993 with honors, and received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, graduating magna cum laude. While at Southern Miss, she was the president of her sorority, Delta Zeta. She received her medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in 2003 as a Doctor of Allopathic Medicine, again graduating magna cum laude, Alpha Omega Alpha, and Phi Kappa Phi. Dr. Patterson did her initial residency in family medicine and fellowship in obstetrics and gynecology in Corpus Christi, Texas; yet always deep within her heart was a passion to practice family medicine in a rural community.
In 2000 she shadowed a doctor in Indianola and deeply felt God’s calling to begin her medical journey in the Mississippi Delta. In 2007 Dr. Patterson became a practicing physician with the Indianola Family Medical Group and South Sunflower County Hospital. Her fifteen years of delivering babies and serving as a family physician has left an immeasurable impact on the lives of her countless patients and many friends in Sunflower County and throughout the state of Mississippi. Dr. Patterson’s medical acuity was recognized when she was elected as president of the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians in 2017. Upon accepting the gavel, she encouraged her fellow physicians “to rekindle their love and commitment to family medicine.” In 2022, she received the John. B. Howell Memorial Award as the Family Physician of the Year from the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians. This award recognizes a physician who provides his or her community with compassion and comprehensive medical service on a continuous basis. Her awards and medical profession affiliations on the local, state and national level are numerous.
Dr. Patterson was also a selfless giver to her community which she deeply loved. She immersed herself into all things Indianola. She sought to make life better for those around her by serving in leadership roles of the Friends of the Henry M. Seymour Library, the Indianola Civic League, DAR, Indianola Youth Soccer Organization, Good Samaritan Clinic, and Jackson Free Clinic. She was very devoted to serving her Lord and Savior through her local church, First United Methodist of Indianola. Dr. Patterson served as chairman of the Leadership Team, as a Sunday School teacher, and as a pivotal team member of the formation of the FUMC Day School Program, giving countless hours in her leadership and wisdom. She was especially impactful to her community, church, local schools, and daycare programs during the COVID pandemic.
Katie’s most meaningful impact has been left in her immeasurable love and devotion to her husband, David, and their four sons, Samuel, Reilly, Nicholas and John Kastens. She and David formed a solid team, totally committed to rearing their sons in a loving, Christian environment. Even with heavy professional and community demands, Dr. Patterson’s heart and soul were with “her boys,” whom she adored. She praised God for enriching her life so abundantly.
Dr. Patterson was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Virginia Terry Fokakis, her maternal grandparents, Claude Willis Terry and Dorothy Bond Terry, and her paternal grandparents, Nick Arthur Fokakis and Lybia Howell Fokakis.
She is survived by her husband of 23 years, David Clayton Patterson, her sons, Samuel Clayton, Reilly Campbell, Nicholas Brayden and John Kastens Patterson; her father, Dr. Arthur Nick Fokakis; sister Virginia “Ginny” Fokakis Williams (Gary); brother, Dr. Terry Nick Fokakis (Kendra), and six nephews with one more on the way.
She treasured her association with the physicians, nurses, and staff at her clinic and hospital and especially treasured her friendship with her loyal nursing assistant, Martha Johnson.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church or FUMC Day School, P.O. Box 86, Indianola, MS 38751, or to Friends of the Henry M. Seymour Library, P.O. Box 1600, Indianola, MS 38751
In Matthew 20:28, Christ states, “the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.” His servant, Dr. Katie Patterson, answered His call and truly came to serve. Her footprint in serving will be felt for generations to come.
