Patricia Cates Cullum - SAVANNAH - A native Savannahian, Patricia Cates Cullum died on Thursday, the twenty-fourth of November, 2016. The widow of Frank R. Cullum, Esq., Patricia was born on November 16th, 1926, to Catherine Zealy Cates and James Michael Cates of Savannah. Preceded in death by her brother, James Michael Cates, Jr., she is survived by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren: her daughter, Cathy Cullum Belford (Lee) and her son, Frank R. Cullum, III (Pam) of Savannah, and John Michael Cullum (Jobie) of Tampa; her grandchildren, William Lee Belford, Jr. (Emily), Patricia Belford Rosenthal (Matthew), and Francis Robert Cullum, IV (Samantha) of Savannah; and her great-grandchildren, Asher Rosenthal, Colleen Cates Rosenthal, and Francis Ryan Cullum. A Roman Catholic educated at parochial schools, Patty graduated from St. Vincent's Academy in 1945 and dedicated her life to serving her church, her community, and beyond. The first president of the St. James Home and School Association, she also served as President of the Parent Teacher Organization at Benedictine Military School, which awarded her the Benedictine Gold Medal of Excellence in 1993; the highest honor conferred by the school, she was the first woman to receive this award. In addition, Patty served two terms as President of the St. Joseph's Hospital Auxiliary. Recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award, her service hours to St. Joseph's exceeded 50,000. She also served on the board of the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation. Later in life, Patty embarked upon several trips to Guyana with Dr. Carmen Gannon, RSM, to assist the Sisters of Mercy at the clinic Dr. Gannon established to relieve the poor. Her dedication to a life of service reflects her abiding devotion to her faith. Among her other interests, Patty was an avid golfer in her middle years, and with her husband Frank made the annual pilgrimage to the Augusta National to attend the Master's Tournament, of which they were patrons for over fifty years. Travel abroad took the couple across the globe, from Europe to the South Seas, but their favorite destination by far was Ireland, which they visited over fifteen times. Patty also enjoyed gardening, founding the Windsor Forest Garden Club and serving as its first president. Her vocational and leisurely pursuits alike evince a deep appreciation of her roots at home shaped by a cosmopolitan worldview. The family extends its gratitude to Buckingham South for their care of Patty in the final years of her life. Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors on Hodgson Memorial Drive will host the visitation on the evening of Monday, November 28th, from five o'clock to half-past six, and a Rosary service immediately after. Sacred Heart Church will hold the Mass of Christian Burial at two in the afternoon on Tuesday, November 29th. Burial at the Catholic Cemetery will follow mass. Memorials may be sent to Our Lady of Confidence Carmelite Monastery, 11 West Back Street, Savannah, Georgia 31419. Please sign our on-line guest book at www.foxandweeks.com Savannah Morning News November 28, 2016 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries.