Patrice Lachelle Elder-Relford was born November 3, 1969, in the “City of Motown” Detroit, Michigan. She was raised in Massillon, Ohio, and she was the daughter of Lottie Elder and Emanuel Riggins. Patrice is the third child of six. Her family affectionately called her, “Bighead.” Patrice told the story that when she started kindergarten, the teacher was calling the roll and called her birth name Patrice Elder. She did not answer. After calling the roll the teacher asked, “Are you Patrice Elder?” She replied “No, my name is “Bighead”.
At an early age, Patrice gave her life to Christ. She was baptized as a child at Shiloh Baptist Church in Massillon, Ohio. She loved to sing in the various choirs of the church and participate in plays during Christmas and Easter. Patrice shared that her maternal grandmother, Birtha Flowers, was a big part of her young spiritual formation. She would go with her grandmother to visit the sick and shut-in members and attend missionary meetings.
Patrice attended Whittier Elementary, Longfellow Junior High and Washington High School in Massillon. She played basketball, and she excelled in track. Patrice was a part of Massillon’s summer track team program. This specialty team competed in meets throughout the state. She ran the third leg of the four-by-100-meter relay. The team qualified to compete in Hershey, PA against the best in the country. She graduated from high school in 1988.
Upon completing high school, Patrice received two college letters of acceptance. One from the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio and one from Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina.
Patrice chose Livingstone College where she enjoyed singing in the Prayer Meeting Choir and the Concert Choir. If you ever heard her sing, you knew she was blessed with a masterful voice. She graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.
On August 12, 1989, Patrice married the love of her life, Brian Relford. Patrice and Brian met in their hometown of Massillon, Ohio where they had several encounters over a short period of time. They first caught each other’s eye at St. James AME Zion church during a college information session, followed by the high school basketball game where a mutual cousin spoke to each of them about their shared interest in one another. That’s how their love story began.
Soon after, they married and began their family. She was the devoted mother of Brian Scott Jr., Rachel Janel, and Sarai Patrice. Patrice loved being a mother and a wife, and she committed herself to pouring all of her love into her family.
In 1995, Patrice and Brian were assigned to their first pastoral appointment at Corinth A.M.E. Zion Church in Silar City, North Carolina. It was there that the membership was very patient with this young, inexperienced pastor and first lady. Patrice connected with the members and received great mentorship. In 1997, Brian and Patrice were assigned to Logan Temple in Knoxville, Tennessee. Patrice started a summer enrichment ministry called Begin-A-New without any funding. Patrice challenged the members and the ministries of the church to support the enrichment program by not only giving in a monetary way but also giving of their time to work the program. In 2006, Patrice and Brian went to Lomax Temple in Detroit, Michigan. Patrice worked with the Christian Education Department. She loved working with children, and she eventually became the leader of Children’s Church. Patrice gave the message for Sunday worship for the first time in her life, at Lomax. In July of 2019, Patrice and Brian came to Union Wesley AME Zion Church in Washington DC where Patrice’s leadership and influence increased tremendously. She not only was the speaker for Lay Sunday, but Patrice was the co-teacher for bible study with her husband. Together, they did bible study virtually for over two years providing a lot of video footage that will allow her legacy to live on. Patrice was not only the first lady of Union Wesley, but she was also a respected voice of influence within the church. Patrice was her own person and had her own goals. She enjoyed gardening, and watching things grow was a true passion of hers. She strongly believed that “we as a people need to get back to growing our own food and then and only then do we know what we are eating.” She was a lifelong lover of reading. She believed that reading allowed her to travel to places she may not be able to physically go to as well as to learn. Patrice found great fulfillment in cooking. She had a wide variety of ethnic foods that she could cook well. Naturally, she made great soul food, but Patrice could also make Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Greek, Mediterranean and even vegan. Everything Patrice made was from scratch, for example, pancakes, biscuits, desserts, lemonade and ginger beer. She fed her family’s souls and bodies well.
On August 12, 2023, Patrice and Brian celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary. Patrice was a blessing to the people who came into her life. She was a pastor’s wife and first lady for over 28 years. She was an original, authentic individual who will be deeply missed. She was without a doubt a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and she believed in the resurrection. Patrice leaves to cherish life, her husband, Brian; her children Brian Jr., Rachel, Sarai, and granddaughter Braelin, her mother, Lottie, siblings Carlton, (Donna), Monique (Uthman), Shawn (Candice), Alonzo (Charla), Dominic (Michelle) and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family and friends.
A celebration of First Lady Patrice LaChelle Relford's amazing life will be held on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
Viewing: 10:00 AM EST - 11:00 AM EST
Service: 11:00 AM EST
Location: Union Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church
