Ida Elizabeth Patterson-Johnson was born on July 31, 1940 in Roanoke Rapids, NC to the late Ruth Mills Patterson and Edwin Lawrence Patterson, Sr. She was educated in Winston-Salem's public school systems and graduated from Atkins High School in 1957. In 1961, after earning her bachelor's degree in biology from North Carolina Central University, Ida moved to Newport News,Virginia and began teaching high school. Following marriage and relocation to Maryland, Ida pursued a master's degree from the University of Maryland and began a long career as a librarian. In 1993, she returned to her childhood home of Winston-Salem, NC. This move allowed her to spend more time with her family, including her beloved father prior to his passing in 1994. She accepted a position as Library Director at Bennett College in Greensboro, NC. Subsequently, she was recruited by the legendary writer Dr. Maya Angelou to run a community-based library at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. During this time, Ida also took a part-time job at the Shaw University's Divinity School, in High Point, NC. Due to a serious illness, Ida moved to Richmond, Virginia in 2016 to be closer to family during her recovery. Ida was a member of Lloyd Presbyterian Church, where she was raised. She became a devoted member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Winston-Salem and remained active there until her illness. She was a member of the National Association of University Women, the American Library Association and was a Life Member of the NAACP. She was also a very proud Golden Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Ida Patterson-Johnson passed away on August 29, 2018 after a long illness. She was preceded in death by her parents Ruth and Edwin Patterson. She is survived by her daughter Patrice Wiggins (Cedric), her daughter Denise Johnson-White (William), granddaughters Jessica Catherine Wiggins, Shirai Monique Wiggins and Devyn Ruth White, grandsons Cedric Earl Wiggins, Jr. and Jason Edwin Wiggins, great grand-daughter Skylah Wiggins, brother Edwin Lawrence Patterson, Jr., many beloved friends and extended family.

Homegoing services will be held on Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.'s Omega Omega service will begin at 12:00 p.m. with a public viewing to follow. The funeral will begin at 1:00 p.m. with the Rev. Wendell A. Johnson of Jerusalem Baptist Church in Norfolk, VA presiding. For a copy of the funeral program, click here