Patricia Ross Dinkins

Patricia “Patsy” Ross Dinkins was a bright light of quiet service, kindness, and humility. Her beautiful eyes and smile conveyed warmth and kindness and knowing her was like holding your own ray of sunshine. You often experienced the positive impacts of her service long before realizing her involvement, if you ever did. Her keen understanding of right vs. wrong was an example for many throughout her life.

Born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, to Leonard and Mildred (Criss) Ross, Patsy excelled at academics and music, and graduated from Lakeland High School, Class of 1949. She was an active member of College Heights United Methodist Church, attending as a child and throughout her college years at Florida Southern College. Patsy graduated from Florida Southern in 1952, and later that year married her college sweetheart, Edward Dinkins, Jr., at College Heights UMC. Together they then began a life of service and ministry for the United Methodist Church.

Patsy held various positions during her career, including Accounting and Data Entry Clerk, Administrative Assistant, and Substitute Teacher. She retired in 1995 as the Campus Hostess and Material Donations Coordinator for the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home, now known as Residing Hope, in Enterprise, Florida. With retirement, Patsy and Ed returned to Lakeland where they lived their remaining years. They enjoyed attending First United Methodist Church in Lakeland, and a variety of activities and music programs at their Alma Matter, Florida Southern College. Together they continued to serve and minister to others through projects like building homes for Habitat for Humanity in the Lakeland area, and by helping to build a campground expansion for the United Methodist Church at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.

As a minister’s wife, Patsy worked full-time during the day and attended church meetings and services during the evenings and weekends. She was a quiet, intensely humble, and kind Christian servant, always supporting from behind the scenes. This was a place she knew well and found to be of great comfort. She served the church faithfully as a church Hostess, Pianist/Organist, Sunday School Teacher, Choir Member, Committee Member (hundreds), and many other roles. Recipients of her acts of service and kindness often never knew of the role she played, which was exactly what she preferred. While she was deserving of much recognition throughout her life, it was unfortunately also the fastest way to embarrass her. Recognition caused her trademark blush and a desire to retreat from the spotlight. For Patsy, it was always about others, never her.

And then there was Patsy’s cooking! It was well known that people would attend meetings because they knew she would be cooking for them. Best known for her Southern pecan pie, many were left begging for her secret recipe. Her pie would later win “Best Pie” in a Pi Day contest in Irvine, California. As a Southerner, she found humor in that.

Patsy was married to Ed for almost 67 years, and her greatest ministry was always to her family. She was a devoted wife and mother to three children, Dale, Linda, and Lois. Despite a full-time career and her service to the church, her family was her top priority and a source of immense pride and gratitude. This later extended to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as all the Boxer dogs she had throughout her lifetime.

Patsy was predeceased by her spouse, Edward Dinkins, Jr, of Lakeland, Florida, her son, Dale Dinkins of Chattanooga, Tennessee, her parents, Leonard and Mildred Ross of Lakeland, Florida, a brother James Ross (Helen) of St Augustine, Florida, her grandson, Cameron Mitchell of Anniston, Alabama, her great-grandson, Isaac Mitchell of McKinney, Texas, and many beloved in-laws and cousins. She is survived by her two daughters, Linda Searles (Scott) of Palm Bay, Florida, and Lois Chauncey (the late William) of Portland, Oregon, grandchildren Xander Flynn Chauncey (Emily) of New York, New York, Jenna Anderson (Andrei) of Portland, Oregon, Meghan Jaggars (Jen) of Charleston, South Carolina, Daniel Mitchell (Layne) of McKinney, Texas, Adam Searles (Brooke) of Tallahassee, Florida, and Megan Searles of Orlando, Florida and great-grandchildren Cameron Anderson of Portland, Oregon, and Ziggy Jaggars of Charleston, South Carolina. She is also survived by brother-in-law, Del Dinkins (Jeanne) of Clermont, Florida, and a number of beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to extend our sincere gratitude for the thoughts, prayers, love, and other support we have received during the loss of Patsy, known to us as Momma, Gammie, and Grand-Gammie. We will celebrate her life on Friday, January 30, 2026, at 2 pm in the Chapel of First United Methodist Church of Lakeland, Florida. Burial to follow at Oak Hill Burial Park, Lakeland, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made in her memory to Residing Hope of Enterprise, Florida (formerly the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home) – a place she loved dearly and children she loved even more.