Rose Patterson, wife of Church of God in Christ leader Bishop J.O. Patterson Jr., motivated her children as well as her students. A career in education was natural for her because her father was one of the first black teachers to work in Nashville's school system. "She always wanted to show children there was more to life," said her son, Charles Harrison Mason Patterson of Memphis. Patterson died Friday at Methodist Central Hospital. She was 64. Born in Nashville, Mrs. Patterson spent much of her professional career as a kindergarten teacher, both in Nashville and Memphis public schools. She took time off from teaching to raise her four children, instilling in them a strong faith in God. "Her belief in God was defined in her character," her son said. "Mama had tremendous faith." That faith was tested a few weeks ago when Mrs. Patterson was diagnosed with cancer in her esophagus. She died of complications from an infection. "She never looked worried. Never looked despondent," Patterson said. "She just said (God) wouldn't bring me to it if He wouldn't bring me through it." Her son also said his mother was supportive of her husband, whether politically or in the church. Bishop J.O. Patterson Jr. served briefly as the city's first black mayor in 1982 when then-Memphis mayor Wyeth Chandler resigned to accept a circuit court judgeship. He is pastor of Pentecostal Temple COGIC. "She was eager to help him if he was eager to run," her son said. Mrs. Patterson was the founder and director of Pentecostal Temple's day care center. "She loved young people," Patterson said. Mrs. Patterson was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and graduated from Central State University with a bachelor's degree in education; she received two master's degrees from Memphis State (University of Memphis) in business and early childhood education; and a master's degree in arts and religion from Memphis Theological Seminary. In addition to her husband and son, she is survived by a daughter, Jennifer Rose Patterson of Memphis; two other sons, J.O. Patterson III and Aaron Lamont Patterson, both of Memphis, and seven grandchildren. Funeral services will be Thursday at noon at Pentecostal Temple COGIC. Memorial contributions should be sent to the J.O. Patterson Memorial Scholarship Fund at Pentecostal Temple. (Author Stephen D. Price, published in The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, on October 3, 2005)