Patricia Ann Greene Wise

October 4, 1943 - January 5, 2020

For this day, for our mother Patricia Ann “Cookie” Greene Wise, we are truly thankful. On October 4, 1943, in the historic Upper Waverly Community of Columbia, South Carolina, a long-awaited baby girl was born to the late William Bennett and Bernice Raiford Greene. Her parents named her Patricia Ann but she was most fondly known as “Cookie,” a nickname given her by cousin Edith Hammond and friend Gloria Leevy because Patricia’s father was a chef. Cookie was reared with three brothers: William Bennett III, Milton Bernard and Paris Wendell and was the first-born granddaughter of Milton and Mamie Coleman Raiford of Columbia, South Carolina and William Bennett and Sallie White Greene of Abbeville, South Carolina. Patricia attended Waverly Elementary and C. A. Johnson High, graduating in the Class of 1961. She married her high school sweetheart James Albert Wise who died young, leaving Patricia a single mother with five young children to rear. She was a devoted mother who instilled in her children the love of learning and community service. She attended Benedict and Columbia colleges where she gained the knowledge and skills to become a Field Supervisor with Green Thumb, successfully placing senior citizens in the workforce for more than 30 years. She was well-known for her work throughout South Carolina and Georgia and was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by Central Christian University of South Carolina (Honorary Doctor of Christian Humanitarian Service). She was baptized as a child at First Calvary Baptist Church where her maternal grandfather was a deacon and trustee. Upon her retirement, Patricia was able to devote more of her time and talent, becoming a dedicated member of the Senior Missionary Society, Fruit of the Spirit Senior Ministry, The Madrigals Choir, the Jubilee Choir and the church’s anniversary committee. Whenever she visited her brother Paris in Baltimore, she sang with the New All Saints Catholic Church Gospel Choir. Her leisure time was filled with traveling, playing bridge, reading, fellowshipping with friends and being a member of Les Chapeaux Rouges (The Red Hat Society). Her abiding faith, her children and her grands were the center of her joy. Patricia’s life journey was one of perseverance, reverence and a merry heart. “Her children rise up and call her blessed.” Patricia Ann “Cookie” Greene Wise was predeceased by daughter Pier Pleshette Wise and is survived by one daughter Meredith Keisha Liane Wise; four sons: Leon Paris Greene of Denver, Colorado, the Reverend Ryan Albert (Reverend Adriane) Wise of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Shaun Roderick (Sonja) Wise and Warren Wendell Wise, both of Columbia; eleven grandchildren: Paris Michael (Keneria) Gainey, Adam-Leon Patrick Greene, Justin Emmanuel Metze, Nicholas Pierre Wise, Bryana Nicole Atkinson Wise, Dallas Coleman Bennett Wise, Logan James Wise, Carrington Pierre Wise, Ethan Alexander Wise, Chase Fitzgerald Wise, London Pierre Thomas; two great-grandchildren: Juwon Russin Gainey and Kalina Joelle Metze; one brother: Paris (Janice) Greene of Baltimore, Maryland; one aunt: Doris Raiford Tarleton of Las Vegas, Nevada; three nephews: Aaron Raiford Greene, Milton Bernard Greene, and Samuel Burton Wise; five nieces: Kimberly Greene, Wendy Greene, Michelle Simmons-Wilson, Renee Wise, and Tera Wise; three sisters-in-law Doris Glymph (Milton) Greene, Willie Mae Wise and Irma (Warren) Wise; seven first cousins; and a host of other relatives. In lieu of flowers, the family asks memorial contributions be made to the First Calvary Baptist Church Legacy Fund.