Patricia Leah (Bassett) Chitwood

Patricia Leah Bassett Chitwood, 65, of Columbus, GA, passed away September 26, 2021.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, October 01, 2021 in the sanctuary of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Columbus, Georgia with Rev. Dr. Cindy Garrard, Rev. Thad Haygood, and Rev. Dr. Jimmy Elder officiating. A private interment will be held in Seale Cemetery, Seale, Alabama. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. in Stockwell Hall located in St. Luke according to McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, Georgia 31907. Those who are unable to attend the service for Mrs. Chitwood, may visit www.saintlukecolumbus.org  to view the services LIVE. Due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we encourage everyone to make the best decisions to remain safe. If anyone wishes to attend the church service, please remember to remain 6 feet apart from those not in your household and wear personal protective equipment.

 Pat was born July 28, 1956, in Bethesda, MD, the daughter of David Bassett and Joyce King Bassett. Born to a military family, she grew up in Alexandria, VA; Washington, D.C.; Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Charleston, S.C.; Talladega, AL; Naples, Italy; and Columbus, GA. Pat graduated from Hardaway High in 1973 and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Auburn University in 1981. In her 29-year career at the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, she became the first female business editor, a leader in the Beyond 2000 civic journalism project, the chair of the Newspapers in Education program, and a member of the editorial board. She retired as circulation director. Pat gave her love for people and the written word to others, in St. Luke's Seekers Sunday School Class and Thursday Women's Bible Study, Kiwanis Club, Mothers against Drunk Driving, Council for Child Abuse Prevention, Carson McCullers Center for Writers & Musicians, and chair of the Muscogee County Library Book Sale. Pat was rare as both a keen intellect and a people person -- legendary for arranging surprise parties, creating "Top 10" lists, quoting fragments of poetry, and finding the magic in a "24-hour phenomenon." Pat left behind more than family, friends, colleagues, and a host of articles, editorials, and graduate papers. She left behind a legacy of the power of our words and deeds to shape our tomorrows.

 Other than her father, Mrs. Chitwood was preceded in death by her sister Judy Denham.

She is survived by her husband Robert "Bob" Worley Chitwood; children Jason Quinley, Ryan (Cady) Chitwood, and Leslie (Kyle) Maley; grandchildren Jaylyn Maley, Oliver Maley, and Reid Chitwood; brother David Bassett and mother Joyce Bassett.

In lieu of flowers, donations may go to St. Luke United Methodist Church, The Pastoral Institute, or the Auburn University Foundation's "Jack Simms Endowed Scholarship in Journalism" at the Auburn Fund, Gift Processing, 317 College St., Auburn, AL 36849.

 Those who wish may sign the online guest registry by visiting www.mcmullenfuneralhome.com

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