FRANKLIN – Patricia Irene Bailey “Patsy” Tomlin, 77, passed away on Friday, February 11, 2011 surrounded by her family. Patsy was born in Courtland, a daughter of C. Lawson and Lucye Howell Bailey and lived for many years with a much loved uncle and aunt, Carroll and Annie H. Vaughan. She was predeceased by her husband, William A. “Bill” Tomlin, grandson Stephen J. Drake, and a great-granddaughter Abbigail Marie Drake, as well as a brother, William M. Bailey, and a sister, Joyce B. Winn.

An employee of Southampton County Schools, she was the Cafeteria Manager of Hunterdale Elementary School from 1965 -2008. She was the Cafeteria Manager of Riverdale Elementary School from 2008 until her death. Patsy thrived on the smiles and hugs of “her” children for over 45 years, many of the current generation calling her “grandma” as they came through the serving line.

She was a member of Grace Memorial United Methodist Church in Sedley, the Grace Memorial UMW, the national School Nutrition Association, the School Nutrition Association of Virginia, and the Southampton Memorial Hospital Senior Circle. As a cancer survivor, she was a member of a Relay for Life team for many years.

Loved and cherished by many, Patsy is survived by daughters, Linda T. Drake (Joe) of Newsoms, Alice T. Mason (Ricky) of Hunterdale; a son, William A. “Billy” Tomlin, Jr. (Nancy) of Como, N.C.; grandchildren Justin Drake (Casey) of Newsoms, Carol Tomlin of Severn, N.C., Gregory Mason of Hunterdale, and Taylor Tomlin of Como, N.C.; great-grandchildren Caitlyn, Tyler and Chloe Willoughby and Carson Drake; a brother Charles Bailey (Unity) of Suffolk; brother-in-law Tommy Winn of Newport News; sisters-in-law Jean Tomlin of Hunterdale and Mary Tomlin of Pennsville, N.J.; many nieces and nephews; her dear friend Shirley Thode; and her faithful canine companion Phantom.

The funeral will be conducted at 3 pm Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at Wright Funeral Home with the Rev. Rita Kanten officiating. Interment will follow at Beaverdam Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 pm Tuesday at the funeral home and suggests that memorials be made to American Cancer Society, c/o Jane Joyner, 31490 Sunbeam Road Franklin, Va. 23851; or Alzheimer’s Association, 6350 Center Drive, Ste. 102, Norfolk, VA. 23502; or Grace Memorial UMC Bags of Grace Program, P. O. Box 73, Sedley, VA. 23878. www.wrightfuneralhome.org