Patricia Williams Irving (“Trish”), age 69, of Alpharetta and Douglas, Georgia, entered into God’s arms on Sunday, January 2, 2022 at Lakeside Senior Living in Douglas. Trish was born on October 8, 1952, in Coffee County, Georgia to the late Gordon Devon Williams, Sr, and the late Ruby Ann Moore Williams. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Gordon D. Williams, Jr, and Tony Mark Williams.
Trish lived her life dedicated to her family and to serving Christ on earth. She is remembered for her dimple, her infectious laugh, the way her Southern accent would peak when she was angry, tired or sick, her love of Talbots clothes and needlepoint, the impossible cleanliness of her house, her odd taste in movies, her volumes of books on Catholic saints, her love for the Atlanta Braves and Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and her holy and beautiful spirit that touched the lives of everyone she knew.
During her life, which was sadly cut short by cancer and dementia, Trish served as a bank teller, a perfume girl where she received her beloved beach towels as an annual bonus, an at-risk youth camp coordinator for the National Kidney Foundation (a job she loved), a Swiss Army knife secretary at St. Andrews and St. Brigid Catholic Churches, a volunteer Sunday school teacher across decades and numerous Catholic parishes, and an advocate for refugees, battered women, and life from conception to natural death. She cared for the dying and the newest born. She kept a faithful marriage and raised two children in her faith, her greatest gift to them. And despite her career as a grandmother being shortened, “Gaga,” as she was known, was an incredible grandma to her five grandchildren—all of whom are heartbroken at losing her.
Her family cannot prove this, but in their opinion, she was the greatest wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and Catholic anyone has ever been or will ever be. They will miss her terribly but feel so blessed to have had the gift of her for these years.
Trish is survived by her husband, George Campbell Irving, Jr, of Douglas, Georgia, her daughter Tiffany Maria Buck and her husband Klaus Buck and daughter Carter of Gainesville, Georgia; her son George Campbell Irving, III, and his wife Jaclyn Jaraczewski Irving and their children, Casimir, Joyce, Agnes, and Magdalena, of Woodstock, Georgia; two sisters, Ann K. Koch (Tess) of Decatur, Georgia and Lou W. Pierce (Mike) of Axson, Georgia; three brothers, Alan Williams (Peggy), Nick Williams (Margie) and Steve Williams (Paige) all of Douglas, Georgia; sister-in-law Nancy Collins of Brunswick, Georgia; as well as several nieces, nephews and countless other relatives and friends.
The family will receive friends and a rosary Tuesday evening, January 11, 2022 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Sims Funeral Home. Interment will follow at the St Paul’s Columbarium.
A funeral Mass will held on Wednesday, January 12 2022 at 12:00 pm at St. Paul’s Catholic Church with Father Paul O’Connell officiating.
Due to COVID-19, Sims Funeral Home Inc. will require all customers, guests, and attendees to wear medical grade masks at all times while in our facility, as well as social distancing. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, however the safety of our staff and those we serve are our primary concern. Masks will not be provided.
Sims Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.