Shelia Patton

Marshelia “Shelia” Denise Patton, age 61, a resident of Columbia, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at Parkway Baptist Church, with Mike Roberts officiating. Burial will follow at Maury Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 26, from 3:00–6:00 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home and again on Thursday from 12:00 p.m. until the service hour at the church. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Shelia was born in Columbia, Tennessee, on October 5, 1964, and was the daughter of the late Leroy Mason Craig and Margaret Ann Adkison Pruitt. She graduated from Central High School and worked for several years as a hairstylist. She later worked at Middle Tennessee Bank.

On April 12, 1985, Shelia married the love of her life, Rickey Patton. Their love story began when they were high school sweethearts in the 10th grade, and they shared 41 years of marriage filled with love, family, and countless memories. Most recently, Shelia and Rickey enjoyed traveling together throughout the West.

Shelia was a devoted wife, mother, Mimi, and friend. She was her daughters’ biggest supporter throughout their school years, especially while they played volleyball. She drove them to their games, cheered the loudest, and never missed an opportunity to encourage them. She loved to sew and was a passionate Alabama football fan, but her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren. She showed up for every baseball game, dance recital, and activity, always proudly cheering them on.

Her daughter shared, “When I say my mom was my best friend, I truly mean it with everything in me. She was my safe space. She held all my secrets, held me every time I cried, and would show up for me no matter the time or the day. She loved to hear me sing and always called me her Sunshine—so much so that I built my entire classroom around sunshines just to carry a piece of her with me every day.”

She continued, “She loved to sew, and she was the absolute BEST Mimi to my sweet babies. They adored her, and we will make sure her memory lives in their hearts forever. She and my daddy have been together for 41 years, high school sweethearts since 10th grade, sharing a love story that most people only dream of.”

“Momma had the biggest, most selfless heart of anyone I’ve ever known. While our world feels entirely dark right now, we take comfort in knowing that she loved Jesus, and today she is in Heaven, completely restored, standing alongside her daddy and her precious Dillion.”

Shelia is survived by her loving husband of 41 years, Rickey Patton of Columbia; daughters, Heather Patton and Chelsea (Jon Paul) Hilgert; brother, Michael (Vickey) Craig; brother-in-law, Mike (Tammy “Rosie”) Patton; sister-in-law, Carolee (Terry) Anderson; nieces, Christie (Justin) Dixon, Samantha Patton, and Misty (Kyle) Gaines; nephews, Jason (Candy) Anderson, Walter (Heather) Anderson, and Anthony Patton; grandchildren, Kaden, Olivia, and Jackson Hilgert; and several cousins.

Along with her father, Leroy Craig, she was preceded in death by her stepfather, Dennis Pruitt; mother and father-in-law, Frances and William Patton; and stepbrothers, Dewayne Pruitt and Tony Pruitt.

Pallbearers will be Anthony Patton, Jason Anderson, Walter Anderson, Tommy Gotez, Cassie Adkison, Derrick Adkison, Marty Adkison, and Layne Barns.

Shelia’s love, kindness, devotion to her family, and unwavering faith will live on through the many lives she touched. She will be deeply missed and forever loved by her family and all who had the privilege of knowing her.