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WAKEFIELD — Betty Jean Patterson, 75, of Wakefield, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Feb. 3, 2020, after a short stay in the East Pavilion at Southampton Memorial Hospital.

Betty was born on June 19, 1944, in Brooklyn Naval Hospital, New York City, during World War II.

She was the oldest child to the late Garland W. Nichols Sr. and Carmen Irene Portela Nichols. She was preceded in death by her son, Roger Wilson Drake III.

She was raised in Courtland, Virginia, and attended Southampton High School.

Betty worked in public safety and retired as a public safety telecommunicator for the City of Norfolk Fire & Paramedical Services; it was there that she met and, in 1976, married her sweetheart, “Capt. Pat.” They lived in Virginia Beach for many years until retiring to their current home in Wakefield.

Betty loved dogs and all animals, she was known for her affinity for taking in stray animals and helping them find good homes. She loved her children and her grandchildren and shared her passion for animals with them.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Donald Ray “Capt. Pat” Patterson; her children, Cindy Drake Hinrichs and husband, Mike, Betty Drake Beard, Terri Lynne Drake, and Timothy Walker Drake and wife, Jennifer; grandchildren, Samuel Blount Drewry III and wife, Ashleigh, Victoria Wilson Drewry, Megan Nicole Drewry, Alexa Erika Hinrichs, Amanda Holloman Beard, Adam Douglas Beard, Ashley Loren Beard, Dr. Jessica Lynne Wigley, Steven Owen Wigley Jr., and Ethan Ray Drake; great-grandchild, Kayleigh, siblings, Anne Nichols Eubanks, Garland “Nick” W. Nichols Jr., Debbie Nichols Andrezjewski, and Sandra Nichols Gardner, brother-in-law, Harry E. Patterson Jr., sister-in-law, Nora Patterson Wood and husband Raymond, and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, extended family and friends.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, in R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home, Wakefield Chapel, with the Rev. Tommy Speight officiating. Entombment will be at 2 p.m. in Princess Anne Memorial Park, Virginia Beach.

The family will receive friends on Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. in the funeral home, and suggests that memorial donations be made to Wakefield Volunteer Fire Department, 155 Fleetwood Ave., Wakefield, VA 23888

The family would like to thank the staff at East Pavilion for their thoughtful care of our mother.

Condolences may be posted at www.rwbakerfh.com.