Patricia Green Duke

Patricia Green Duke (Pat, Patti, Patsy), age 83, of Rome, GA passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family on October 18, 2024.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Tarleton Bafton and Eunice Hayes Green as well as her siblings Micki Green Knott, Mary Green Gile, William Hayes Green, Betty Jo Green Erb, and Robert Wayne Green. 

She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Thomas Eugene Duke, and also leaves behind her three children Lorie Duke Nunnally (Hugh), Leslie Duke Jackson (Ben), and Seth Eugene Duke (Lori) as well her ten grandchildren Brandon Eric Welch (Lauren), Kelsey Winn Jackson, Hayley Green Nunnally, Meghan Duke Hayward (Cody), Benjamin Duke Jackson, Hannah Jo Jackson, Hugh Pendleton Nunnally IV, Taylor Faye Carles Rickett (Kelly), Thomas Hayes Jackson, and Marlee Roberts Duke, and two great-grandchildren Margaret Jade Welch and Paisley Rose Welch. She also leaves behind many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Patricia was born in Ft. Oglethorpe, GA on July 10, 1941 and attended Rossville High School. After her mother’s death, at age 15, she moved in with her sister Mary in Rome, Georgia. Her neighbor took her to church one Sunday where she met a handsome young man who was attracted by her beauty and her bright yellow dress. He courted her for 2 years before they married on December 19, 1958 at his parents’ home in Atlanta. She completed her education at Smith-Hughes Vocational School, then worked as a secretary until they welcomed their first child in 1960. Patricia found her true vocation in motherhood and gave her three children a wonderful childhood filled with homecooked meals, outside adventures, picnic Batman-watching nights, Girl Scouts, family trips, VBS, the best Christmases ever (funded by her monthly contributions to the Christmas Club at the bank), and hand-sewn Halloween costumes, matching Easter outfits, and bedroom décor. Family was paramount to Patricia, and her home was always open to their cousins, siblings, nieces, nephews, and assorted others who needed the protection and warmth of her home. A special tradition for the Green family began in Nashville in 1966 when the whole Green family gathered for Thanksgiving. When they moved to a larger home in Smyrna in 1969, Pat and Gene began hosting the family event and continued the tradition yearly, often having fifty or more overnight guests for four to five nights. The event traveled with them in 1980 to their current home in Rome, GA, where it was moved to the summer and christened Thanksgiving in July (TIJ), a treasured time of laughter and love. As the last living Green sibling since 2006, Patricia reigned as the matriarch with beauty, majesty, grace and consummate hospitality. Her favorite season of life began when she gained the title of Nana. Thus began the rocky-rocking, diaper changing, Sunday lunches, spend-the-night parties, Disney movies, dress-up play, craft making, scooter riding (not her best sport), book reading (and writing!), cooking, Halloween house makeovers, the best Christmases ever (funded by Pop-Pop), tea parties, sidewalk chalk art, swimming, and attending all school events, sporting events and life-defining moments. Annual beach trips with the whole crew were magical days of sand castle building, dripping popsicles, porch rocking, sunburn, laughing, singing and just enjoying the barely-controlled chaos of three generations in their happy place- together and with their Nana.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, October 22, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at Cave Spring Baptist Church, followed by her service there at 3:00 PM with Pastor Jarrod Kinsey officiating.

Interment will follow in the Cave Spring Cemetery. The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: Ben Jackson, Benjamin Jackson, Cleve Jackson, Hayes Jackson, Beau Nunnally, Hugh Nunnally, and Eric Welch. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

The Smith & Miller Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Patricia Green Duke.