Mary Pat Sessions West

Mary Pat Sessions West, age 94, died Wednesday evening at Westside Terrace following a long illness.  She was born November 27, 1919, in Enterprise Alabama, to the late Lewe H. Sessions and Mary B. Sessions.  She attended Brenau College, Gainesville, Ga, and was a graduate of the University of Alabama. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority with a degree in social work.

She married Sam Carroll West, Sr. in 1942.  She served as a social worker for the Red Cross in New York City during World War II while her husband pursued his education in the ministry.  They subsequently lived in Nashville and Atlanta, where she was an invaluable support to her husband in her role as wife of a Methodist Chaplain actively involved with him in providing ministry to the students of Vanderbilt University in the Student Christian Association. She had an active involvement as a pastor’s wife during her husband’s service in Methodist churches in Atlanta and Nashville.  She took an active role in campus life and academic environment while he served on the faculty at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She participated with him in his national study of best features of Christian education programs across the country.  She was involved in various capacities in local Methodist churches and taught a three year old Sunday school class for many years.  Once she was unable to physically work with the youth, she continued her support in every way she could.

Mary Pat was always intrigued by the medical field and was the inspiration and driving force leading to both of her sons pursuing medical careers. From early childhood she provided them with toy doctor kits and biographies of famous physicians. During their training, she enjoyed reading their text books and studying their medical journals. She relished providing much sought after "medical advice" to friends and relatives.

She and her husband retired to Dothan, Al, in 1980, where she was actively involved in the community until her illness. She was a life member of the Eclectas Club and Scottie Frasier Study Club. She attended First United Methodist Church. She was confined to nursing home care for the last several years where her devoted sitters, Josephine Allen and Jean Boyett, remained by her side.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Dr. Sam Carroll West, Sr., her parents, one sister, Gloria Ventress.

She is survived by her two sons, Dr. Sam C. West, Jr. and his wife, Judy, and Dr. Lewe Sessions West and his wife Sandra� her brother, H. Moultrie Sessions of Enterprise, her grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church on Main Street Saturday, July 26, at 2 pm. Officiating will be Dr. Jim Sanders and Dr. Jerry Dooling with Robert Byrd directing.  Serving as pallbearers will be Tom West, Jack Hughes, Moultrie Sessions Jr., Bill Ventress, Michael Ledford, and James West. Visitation will precede the service at 1 pm.