A lifelong public servant, Thomas Ray Patterson had over 50 years in the North Carolina fire service. He began his career by serving on the Eastover Fire Department, where for six years he was a captain and an EMT.
After returning to Louisburg, he joined Louisburg Rescue and served for many years as an EMT. He became a member of the Louisburg Fire Department, where he served for 36 years in various capacities including lieutenant, captain, assistant chief, and secretary/treasurer.
Ray Patterson and his heart for helping others led him to serve for many years in the Louisburg Police Department as well as the Franklinton Police Department.
He was a certified instructor with Vance Granville Community College, and for many years he taught classes at various fire departments throughout the county and taught Con-Ed classes.
Ray was a huge part of the Franklin County Firefighters Association. He was instrumental in the rookie school, which is now named after him, and took great pride in teaching the younger generation of firefighters. He always assisted other departments within the county and was especially loved by the Franklinton Fire Department.
He was a loyal and faithful employee with the Town of Louisburg for 44 years, having started as a lineman, and had worked his way up to assistant town administrator when he retired on December 1, 2022. Ray had a passion for service to others, and he dedicated his life to helping in any way that he possibly could. Following his retirement, he could often be seen around the town, checking in on his boys and lending helpful advice.
On a Friday night, you would find Ray Patterson being the voice of the Louisburg High School Warriors, calling all the home football games for many years!
Sadly, on September 12, 2024, Thomas Ray Patterson passed away unexpectedly at his home from a heart attack after responding to two fire calls earlier that day. Louisburg Fire Department personnel, Franklin County EMS, and Louisburg Police Department all responded to the cardiac arrest call and exhausted all efforts to save his life. Our family will be eternally grateful for what each of you did that day, not only for him but for us, too.
Indeed, Thomas Ray Patterson left a remarkable legacy upon Franklin County.
