Snow Camp
On December 31, 2020, God called our beloved Ava Christine Patterson Mintz to pass from this earthly life to her eternal home in glory. Ava was born on May 17, 1927 to the late Harrison Patterson and Mary Graves Patterson.
Ava married the love of her life, Luther Mintz, in 1947 and built a lifetime of memories that included their three sons and two daughters.
Ava had a trail-blazing career in the Alamance County School System where she was one of the first female school bus drivers and became the first African American school cafeteria manager in the county when she was promoted to the position at North Graham Elementary School. She retired in 1989 after 16 years of state employment.
Ava was a life-long member of Rock Creek AME Church from her childhood and continued to be active as a leader and a participant in multiple church auxiliaries including the Alston-Patterson Women’s Missionary Society and the Young People’s Division. Ava also volunteered for many years as a community leader in County Extension with the 4-H program. However, her real passion was with cooking as she enjoyed feeding her family and extended friends of the ministry and church community.
Ava was preceded in death by her husband - Luther; a brother - Keith Patterson; and three sisters - Ruby Hunter, Allene Compton, and Mary Ruth Miles.
She leaves to cherish her memory, her three sons, Jerry Mintz (Joyce) of Winston-Salem, Avon Mintz of Winston-Salem, Phillip Mintz of Hillsborough; two daughters, Janet Jones of Detroit, MI, and Crystal Jeffers of Greensboro; two sisters, Nannie Mae Patterson of Burlington and Millie Kimes of Snow Camp; four grandchildren, Lauren Mintz, Kristen Jeffers, Marcus Mintz, and Nicholas Mintz; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and “adopted” sons and daughters throughout the community.
Condolences can be mailed to Phillip Mintz at 2809 Becketts Ridge Dr. Hillsborough, NC 27278
Mask are required for viewing and services.
Sharpe Funeral Home has the pleasure of serving the Mintz Family.
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