Emma Lee Patterson

Emma Lee Patterson was born December 20, 1949 in Lake Providence, Louisiana to Earnest and Lillie B Brown, the eighth child in their union. At an early age, she was baptized in Louisiana by Elder McCain. She attended G.W. Griffin high school, moving to Rockford, IL in November of 1966. She graduated from Auburn High School in 1967. In 1968, she married Leon Goins, and welcomed one daughter.

In 1976, she married Johnny Willis and to their union they welcomed two children. She was a member of West Side C.O.G.I.C. under Pastor Loren Lambert, later joining St Paul C.O.G.I.C in 1986. In the church, she was known for her beautiful songbird voice, she was a soloist and her favorite song was “His eyes are on the sparrow” (Matthew 10:29-31). Emma and her 3 children moved to Detroit, Michigan, to begin their new journey in life. She attended Henry Ford College in Detroit, MI and would later receive a certification in nursing assistance. She would then marry Reuben Patterson in 1992 until the time of her death.

She moved to Las Vegas in 2000 to get away from the cold weather of Detroit. She loved it, the mountains and the hot summer days. Emma was a happy loving person, she loved to laugh and tell a silly joke. To those who knew her if she was your friend you had a friend indeed. She was a wonderful mother and she loved her family.

The Lord called Emma home early Sunday morning, August 3rd, 2025, after a long illness, she leaves to cherish her memory her husband Reuben Patterson of Las Vegas, NV, 3 children; Riccie Goins of Pontiac, MI, Tauscha Willis and Johnny Willis Jr of Las Vegas NV, 4 sisters; Georgia (Henry) Wilson of Rockford, IL, Betty (Purvis) McDaniel, Ruthie (James) Evans, JoeAnn Chiles, and Bobby Brown of Las Vegas, NV, 5 grandchildren, 2 great aunts, and one great uncle. She is preceded in death by her sisters and brothers, Amos Brown, Earnest Brown Jr., Jessie Brown, Bama Dismuke, Diah Wilkins, Robert Brown, and Erma Hambrick.

Emma leaves special friends: Ann Jones special nieces; Paulette Brown, Sherry Davenport, Yvonne Davis and Stacy Smith. A special son: Angelo. Emma leaves to cherish her memory: Daughters Riccie Goins of Pontiac MI, Tauscha Willis and Son Johnny Willis Jr of Las Vegas, NV and a host of relatives and friends...