Patricia Ann Whitesell Durham Billings

Ronda – Patricia Ann Whitesell Durham (Billings), 88, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2026, at her home. She was born on February 15, 1938, in Alamance County to the late Howard Anderson Whitesell and Pennie Andrews Whitesell. Patricia was the wife of the love of her life, Roy Durham (deceased), for 29 years. Later, she remarried William Billings (deceased).

Survivors include her son Dwayne Durham and daughter Tammy Durham Johnson (David), and David's daughter Allison Keaton, and children Mason Lambeth and Oliver Keaton, a brother, Clayton Anderson Whitesell, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Alton Alfred Whitesell and his wife, Marlene Friddle Whitesell, and sister Dorothy Elizabeth Whitesell Sykes and her husband Willis "James" Sykes Jr.

Patricia graduated from Altamahaw Ossipee High School in 1956. She worked at the Hosiery Mill in Burlington. After meeting Roy, they got married in 1958, then moved to Wilkes County.

Patricia retired as a telephone operator for Sprint (Centel) in Elkin.

Patricia served faithfully as an active member at Macedonia Baptist Church, with various roles throughout her membership such as GA leader, Music director, pianist and organist, and associational messenger for the Baptist Association representing Macedonia. Patricia's hobbies included sewing, baking, especially cakes, basket weaving, and creating beaded Chrismon ornaments. Patricia enjoyed playing games with her family, including card games, Farkle, Wii bowling, Wii golf, and the Wii party board game, which she frequently won (of her own accord). She loved her cat Chuckie (Roy) and her Grand-dogs Vixen and Raven.

Another favorite thing that Patricia liked to do was traveling. She traveled extensively with her brother Clayton, going to places like China, Germany, and Hawaii. She went on a mission trip with our Church group to Alaska. She traveled extensively with Clayton and the family to different parts of the United States, including the Florida Keys and the western parts of the United States. Her brother Clayton and the family traveled with Patricia on a very memorable trip to Italy. These were all special times.

Patricia loved all of these hobbies, but she was a Christian woman and spent a lot of time in God's word and reading a lot of Christian books. May she rest peacefully in her heavenly home now.

Funeral Services will be conducted on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Macedonia Baptist Church, with Rev. Mike Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Flowers will be accepted and/or memorials made to the Macedonia Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 40, Ronda, NC 28670, and/or Mountain Valley Hospice, PO Box 325, Dobson, NC 27017

The family would like to thank Mountain Valley Hospice for their support during this time.