by S. Rotan Hale
It was a grand night Saturday, Nov. 29 as family and friends celebrated Pat Curtis’ 60th birthday in style. The Kazim Temple hall in downtown Roanoke was filled with many who came out to support and party with the wife of Duke Curtis of Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home. For the past several years, Pat has been understood by many to be the first lady of the dual family-owned business that has been a tradition in the African American community for over 60 years.
MCs for the event were the couple’s children Tiffany, 30 and Patrick, 25 who referred to his mother as “the queen.” Through their cheerful and personable manor the two set the tone for a celebration that was the perfect salute to the queen–their beloved mother. The affair was filled with expressions of affection tinged with lighthearted humor as the MCs ran down the “Top 10 List” of favorite things about their mom.
“The #1 thing…My mom taught us was the meaning of unconditional love,” Tiffany said. “I never new what the term meant until I got older when she said she loved me through rights and wrongs or whether I wound up under the jail or being the next president–she would love me unconditionally… and mom that’s the way I love you,” she added with her voice quivering.
“She was hard headed but in a good way,” said Marian Gray, Pat’s mother who told a brief story of how her daughter took seriously the lesson her mother taught her about sharing and dressed her friends in her own cloths.
A video presentation featured several photographs of the honoree in a host of settings through the years. Various classic images chronicled her life from a cute bubbly Lucy Addison High School cheerleader and majorette through her 28-year marriage (with children) and highlighted good times with her many friends as well.
With a low-keyed rhythm Duke, paraphrasing a popular Gershwin melody, sang “She’s wonderful, she’s marvelous… she’s my wife, she’s my friend, she’s my lover,” and closed affectionately congratulating his wife with a flair. The audience loved it and many swooned in awe.
Incredibly touching testimonies were also given by Lauren Harris and Heather Willis, two young ladies who Pat “adopted” as her own. Lauren told of how Pat lifted her up when her mother passed. “Pat was right by my side as my mother was transitioning… I didn’t have to call her, she was right there,” she said. “My mother knew as she was passing that I still had another mother (Pat) that would be there for me and I am so thankful and love you so very much.”
Andre Perry serenaded the honoree with a medley of a few of the honoree’s favorite songs that opened with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz” her favorite movie.
Pat worked at Allstate Insurance for 12 years and spent 16 years in cosmetics which is quite evident as she has the face of an Ebony Magazine model. She joined her husband at the funeral home in 2001 and brought that infectious radiance that defines her and continues to inspire others.
