Today we celebrate the 93rd birthday of our beloved matriarch, Violet Alford Patterson. Please join us in wishing her a blessed and joyous day.
Known to many as “Aunt Vi”, she has tirelessly served as a founder and curator of the Alford family reunion since its inception 45 years ago. She hosted numerous reunions and helped to establish many of the reunion processes and family traditions that we utilize today. In 2018, she was the recipient of the first Alford family legacy award presented at the family reunion in Oklahoma City.
Her professional and personal accomplishments are countless. Serving as a lifelong educator and mentor, her commitment to community have benefited students academically and spiritually for decades. A graduate of Langston University, she is a life member of Langston University National Alumni Association, Inc.; life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; and 60+ year member of Morning Star Baptist Church.
We sing “Happy 93rd Birthday” along with the #TeamVioletCrew which includes her daughters Emily Harris and Gwynell Wilson (Robert); sons Lee Patterson, II and James Adam Patterson; grandsons Erick Harris, Chris D Harris (Amreen Alisha Harris), Geoff Wilson and DeShawn Patterson-Edwards; granddaughter Kendall Wilson; great-granddaughter Inayaah Harris; great-grandson Carter Lee Harris; and the rest of the Alford clan far and wide.
Violet Alford Patterson is the daughter of Emily & Wesley Dow Alford; and Granddaughter of Matthew Solomon Alford.