TRIBUTE TO VASTI H. PATTERSON
WHEREAS, in His infinite wisdom, almighty God has granted eternal peace to his devout servant Vasti H. Patterson, a loving mother, beloved neighborhood businesswoman, devoted public servant, and outstanding member of her community, on September 1, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Vasti's long and extraordinary life journey began in Decatur, Illinois on August 27, 1921, as a daughter born to the union of Clarence and Minora Joyner. The family relocated to southside Chicago where she attended McCosh Elementary, since renamed for another alumnus, Emmett Till, whose 1955 lynching in Mississippi ignited the civil rights movement. After graduating from Englewood High School (also renamed for Malcom X), Vasti learned the beauty culture methods of the legendary Madam C.J. Walker, the first African American woman to become a self-made millionaire; and
WHEREAS, in 1940, Vasti married and, to this union, a daughter, Therese, and a son, James, were born. During this time, she worked as a beautician and taught at St. Euphrasia Day Nursery School. She remarried in 1948 and, from that union, another son, Joseph was born. Ever the entrepreneur, she moved to the Chatham community where she opened Vasti's Food Mart on the corner of Eberhardt and 78th Street with the help of her mother and three children that soon became the heart of the neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, Vasti Patterson sold her successful business to commence a public service career in 1975 as a Cook County Deputy Sherriff and retired as a process server in 1990. She was extremely engaged in civic and community affairs as 6th Ward Precinct Captain for 17 years. Vasti was also an active member of both Corpus Christi Catholic Church and St. Dorothy Catholic Church in Chatham. She sang in its choir and was Vice-Lady (1994-1996) of the Knights of St. Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary and the cofounder of the Ebony Ladies Golf League in 1976 as well as a member of the Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, and the Alpha Bet...
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