J.O. Patterson, Jr., American politician and religious leader, first black mayor of Memphis (1982) died he was 76.

James Oglethorpe "J.O." Patterson, Jr. was a Bishop in the COGIC and a former Mayor of Memphis, Tennessee died he was  76..

(28 May 1935 – 25 June 2011)

Biography

Patterson was born in Memphis, TN, to the late and first international Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), Inc., J.O. Patterson, Sr. and Deborah M. Patterson. He was the grandson of the COGIC founder, Bishop Charles Harrison Mason and first cousin of the late former Presiding Bishop of COGIC, Gilbert E. Patterson. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee in 1958; a Master of Religion Degree in 1985 from Memphis Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree in 1963 from DePaul University, Chicago, Il.
Bishop Patterson practiced law and then became active in state and local political life as a State Representative for one term, a State Senator for two terms, a Memphis City Councilman for five terms and as interim Mayor of Memphis (for 20 days total) in 1982.^[1] He also served as a delegate to the Tennessee Constitutional Convention and as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1972, 1976 and 1980.
Bishop Patterson was elevated and ceremonially consecrated to the Bishopric in November 1985 by his father, Bishop J.O. Patterson, Sr. Bishop Patterson served as the Pastor of the Pentecostal Temple Church Of God In Christ in Memphis, Tennessee a congregation of 2,500 active members, the Jurisdictional Prelate of the denomination's 1st Ecclesiastical Headquarters Jurisdiction of Tennessee and the COGIC, Inc. Chairman of the General Assembly. Patterson continues to serve his community and the church in many capacities such as, the President of J. O. Patterson Mortuary, Inc., a contributing writer for the Official COGIC Manual, a member of the COGIC Legal Counsel, a member of the Board of Directors of the C. H. Mason Foundation, a developer of many inner-city and urban initiatives. Most important to Bishop Patterson is ministry designed to meet the needs of the total man, which is addressed in part by the continuation of the J.O. Patterson crusade, broadcast and media ministries established by his father.
As Chairman of the General Assembly, Bishop Patterson supervises all sessions of the supreme legislative and judicial authority of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. The General Assembly is the only entity of the church that has the power to express the doctrines and creeds of the church.

Death

On Saturday, June 25, 2011, Bishop Patterson died of kidney failure at the age of 76. He died at a local hospital at 4:27 pm. His funeral was held on July 1, 2011 at the Mason Temple Church of God in Christ at 11am in Memphis, Tennessee. May He now take his rest with God. And may he join the heavenly band of preachers.

 

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