MACON — Wilford Patterson Jr., 77, died April 28, 2026. 

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, at Macedonia M.B. Church, with Terry Lee Rice Jr. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation was from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, at Lee-Sykes Funeral Home. Lee-Sykes Funeral Home of Columbus is in charge of arrangements. 

Mr. Patterson was born Aug. 15, 1948, in Macon, to the late Wilford Sr. and Mable Patterson. He was a graduate of B.F. Liddell High School and was formerly employed at Bryan Food Inc. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Sherman and Clinton Patterson; and one grandchild. 

He is survived by is wife, Mary Nell Patterson; sons, Kenyarda Patterson of Memphis, Tennessee, and Jawaski Patterson of Ocean Springs; daughter, Aya Patterson-Maiden of Daniel Island, South Carolina; brothers, Glenn and Carnell Patterson, both of Macon; sisters, Panesha Patterson-Trible and LaVelle Patterson-Rice, both of Macon; and two grandchildren. 

Pallbearers will be James Jones, Keith Jones, Yusuf Boyd, Robert Bland, Mario McLeod and Melvin Turnpseed.