L.A. “Buddy” Patrick, 78

L.A. “Buddy” Patrick, 78, of Woodstock, passed away Wednesday, February 19, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of hard work, generosity, and unwavering dedication to family. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 15, at 12 p.m. at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 4096 East Cherokee Drive, Canton, GA.

Born in Adrian, Buddy was the sixth of ten children in a family that knew the true meaning of hard work. His parents, Emmet and Grace Patrick, ran a bustling household in a tiny 1,000-square-foot home with no bathroom, no air conditioning, and no shortage of character-building experiences. If you wanted warm water, you boiled it. If you wanted space, well… you didn’t get any.

From a young age, Buddy worked long days in the cotton and tobacco fields beneath the sweltering Georgia sun. Nights were spent crammed into a bed with more siblings than blankets. While he loved his family dearly, it didn’t take him long to decide that farm life wasn’t his calling. So, at 18, with twenty dollars in his pocket, a sharp mind, and a firm resolve to never pick another row of cotton, Buddy set off for Atlanta to carve out a new future and carve it out he did. In 1969, he became the youngest commercial real estate broker in Atlanta, founding Buddy Patrick Realtors, a firm that soon became a fixture of the metro area’s business world. His honesty, work ethic, and natural ability to connect with people set him apart. Despite his success, Buddy never forgot his roots. He remained devoted to his family and visited often. No matter how far he had come from the farm, he carried its lessons with him throughout his life. He was known for his warmth, humor, and love of simple pleasures—like the time he famously asked a limo driver to take him to a pond so he could go fishing. Buddy’s journey—from the dusty fields of Swainsboro to the towering skyline of Atlanta—is a testament to perseverance, charm, and the power of chasing dreams. He will be dearly missed yet never forgotten.

Mr. Patrick is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Rita; son, Kilby; his cherished granddaughter, Katherine Elizabeth (Kayleigh); brother, Edwin Patrick (Ingrid); sisters, Sheri McFalls (Cecil) and Pam Patrick; and a large extended family who will forever treasure his memory.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Atlanta Community Food Bank, a fitting tribute to a man who spent his life working hard—and making sure others had food on their tables.