Ivel Patterson “Mama Pat” Caldwell, 95, died Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at Mobile Infirmary.
She was born Friday, Jan. 10, 1913 in New Orleans, spent her childhood in Mobile and was one of the first graduates of Murphy High School. Later she lived in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Baghdad, Iraq, Amman, Jordan, Djakarta, Indonesia, Mobile and 23 years in Bon Secour. Recently she moved to Daphne.
She met her husband to be, james Francis Caldwell, while attending the University of Alabama. They married on Aug. 25, 1934 in Mobile. She was a supportive wife, terrific mother and a devout Christian. She was the matriarch of a large family, keeping daily track on four children and their spouses, 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. She was also the family historian for her five siblings and their families, maintaining contact with all of them on the internet.
She attended the First Baptist Church in Foley for many years where she had a passion for her Sunday School classs and the Pearson Circle of the WMU. Living her final year in Daphne, she moved her membership to First Baptist Church in Spanish Fort and became great friends with her minister, Dr. Frank Kirksey, who will officiate her services.
She was active in the Foley Community by proudly attending the local AARP organization and the Foley Women’s Club. She made countless contributions to her church, community and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. James Francis Caldwell, and great-grandchild, Evan Ackerbloom.
Survivors incude four children, Elizabeth “Beth” Caldwell (Terry III) Moore of Daphne, Jo Frances Caldwell (Charles) Findlay of Tuscaloosa, Henry “Diz” (Trish) Caldwell of Melbourne Beach, Fla., and James (Sarah) Caldwell of Orange Beach; sister, Belle Bigger of Montgomery; brother, Minter Patterson of Tuscaloosa; 11 grandchildren, Terry (Suzann) Moore IV of Atlanta, Serena Moore (Ed) Schreiber of Leonardo, N.J., Frances Moore of Nashville, Tenn., James (Carol) Findlay of Kennesaw, Ga., Steve Findlay of Tuscaloosa, Jan Findlaey of Lexington, Ky., Patti Findlay of Andros Island, Bahamas, Lavanda Caldwell (Riggs) Wagenheim of Mojndville, Jeanette Caldwell (Nate) Thompson of St. Louis, Scott Caldwell of Satellite Beach, Fla., Robin Caldwell (Nils) Ackerbloom of Oralando, Fla.; 20 great-grandchildren, Kate Moore and Terry Moore V of Atlanta, Eddie Schreiber and Nikki Schreiber of Leonardo, N.J., Katelyn Findlay and Kelly Findlay of Kennesaw, Ga., Amberly Findlay of Tuscaloosa, Caldwell Riggs Wagenheim and Sarah Virginia Wagenheim of Moundville, Hannah Thompson and Caelb Thompson of St. Louis, James Caldwell, Ashley Caldwell, Kimberly Caldwell, Timothy Caldwell, Faith Caldwell and Amber Caldwell of Satellite Beach, Fla., Tiffany Ackerbloom and Palmer Ackerbloom of Orlando; other relatives and many friends.
The family would like to express loving gratitude to Paula Bishop, Trish Sellew and Linda Staehle for their many years of faithful care.
Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. with funeral services at 2 p.m. Friday, July 25 at Pine Rest Funeral Home in Foley. Interment will follow at Pine Rest Memorial Park in Foley.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the James and Ivel Scholarship Fund, University of South Alabama, 307 University Blvd., TRPE Suite 2150, Mobile, AL 36688.
Arrangements are by Pine Rest Funeral Home Inc., Foley.
