James Oglethorpe Patterson Jr. (28 May 1935 – 25 June 2011) was a

Holiness Pentecostal Holiness Pentecostalism is the original branch of Pentecostalism, which is characterized by its teaching of three works of grace: the New Birth (first work of grace), entire sanctification (second work of grace), and Spirit baptism evidenced ...

minister in the

Church of God in Christ The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) is an international Christian perfection#Holiness Pentecostalism, Holiness–Pentecostal Christian denomination, and a large Pentecostal denomination in the United States. Although an international and multi ...

and a former mayor of

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...

, the first African-American to hold the office.

Biography

Patterson was born in

Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Mem ...

, the son of the first international Presiding

Bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), J. O. Patterson Sr. (1912–1989) and Deborah Mason Patterson (1914–1985). He was the grandson of COGIC founder Bishop

Charles Harrison Mason Bishop Charles Harrison Mason Sr. (September 8, 1864 – November 17, 1961) was an American Holiness–Pentecostal pastor and minister. He was the founder and first Senior Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, based in Memphis, Tennessee. It d ...

(1864–1961) and cousin of the late Presiding Bishop of COGIC Gilbert E. Patterson (1939–2007). He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from

Fisk University Fisk University is a Private university, private Historically black colleges and universities, historically black Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Nashville, Tennessee. It was founded in 1866 and its campus i ...

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...

in 1958, a Master of Religion degree in 1985 from

Memphis Theological Seminary Memphis Theological Seminary is an ecumenical seminary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Although it is affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, it accepts and trains ministerial candidates from other denomi ...

, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1963 from

DePaul University DePaul University is a private university, private Catholic higher education, Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission, Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from ...

Chicago, Il Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. He practiced law and then became active in state and local political life as a state representative for one term, a state senator for two terms, a Memphis City Councilman for five terms and interim mayor of Memphis (for 20 days total) in 1982, following the resignation of J. Wyeth Chandler; after the statutory 20 days, he was succeeded by Wallace Madewell for a short period. (The next regularly-elected mayor was

Richard Hackett Richard Cecil "Dick" Hackett (born July 21, 1949) served as the mayor of Memphis, Tennessee from 1982 to 1991. Prior to that he was the Shelby County (Tennessee) Clerk from 1978 to 1982. When he took office as mayor, he was 33 years old and w ...

). He also served as a delegate to the

Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...

Constitutional Convention and the

Democratic National Convention The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 18 ...

in 1972, 1976 and 1980. He was elevated and ceremonially consecrated by his father to the bishopric in November 1985. He served as the pastor of the Pentecostal Temple Church Of God In Christ in Memphis, Tennessee a congregation of 2,500 active members, the Jurisdictional Prelate of the denomination's 1st Ecclesiastical Headquarters Jurisdiction of Tennessee and the COGIC, Inc. Chairman of the General Assembly. Bishop Patterson served as the president of J. O. Patterson Mortuary, Inc., a contributing writer for the Official COGIC Manual, a member of the COGIC Legal Counsel, a member of the board of directors of the C. H. Mason Foundation, a developer of many inner-city and urban initiatives. He continued the J. O. Patterson crusade,

broadcast Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...

and

media Media may refer to: Communication * Means of communication, tools and channels used to deliver information or data ** Advertising media, various media, content, buying and placement for advertising ** Interactive media, media that is inter ...

ministries established by his father. As chairman of the General Assembly, Patterson supervised all sessions of the supreme legislative and judicial authority of the Church of God in Christ, Inc., the only entity of the church that has the power to express the doctrines and creeds of the church. On Saturday, June 25, 2011, Bishop Patterson died of

kidney failure Kidney failure, also known as renal failure or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), is a medical condition in which the kidneys can no longer adequately filter waste products from the blood, functioning at less than 15% of normal levels. Kidney fa ...

at the age of 76. He died at a local hospital at 4:27 pm. His funeral was held on July 1, 2011 at the Mason Temple Church of God in Christ in Memphis, Tennessee. Bishop Charles E. Blake officiated over the funeral.Bishop J. O. Patterson Jr. blazed trails in religion as well as politics » The Commercial Appeal
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References

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Patterson, J. O. Jr. 1935 births 2011 deaths Mayors of Memphis, Tennessee 20th-century American bishops 21st-century American bishops Fisk University alumni Members of the Church of God in Christ Memphis Theological Seminary alumni DePaul University alumni Church of God in Christ pastors Tennessee city council members Tennessee state senators Members of the Tennessee House of Representatives Politicians from Memphis, Tennessee Deaths from kidney failure in the United States Pentecostals from Tennessee African-American mayors in Tennessee 20th-century members of the Tennessee General Assembly 20th-century African-American politicians 20th-century mayors of places in Tennessee