Patricia J. Robertson
Visitation and celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home in Pineville, Louisiana.
A graveside service will immediately follow at Robertson Family Kitchen Creek Cemetery, in Ball, Louisiana.
Pat was born August 4, 1935, the daughter of Walter Odell Calloway and Lela Mae Calloway of Black Mountain, North Carolina.
Pat began her working life in the nursing field at Shipman Nursing Home in Weston, Ohio, and St. Joseph Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, but always yearned to teach. She attended Western Carolina College and earned her BA in English, in 1964. She continued her studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she completed her MA in English, in 1969. This is also where she met and married the love of her life, Gordon Robertson, Jr. While living in Chapel Hill and completing her studies there, Pat taught English at Guy Phillips Junior High School and was Secretary at the School of Public Health and the Louis Round Wilson Library at the University.
Gordon and Pat moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, in 1969, where Pat became an English Professor at University of Southwestern Louisiana and continued post-graduate Doctorate studies at Louisiana State University.
Pat was an Assistant Professor of English at University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana, from 1969 to 2000. Pat was selected as an Outstanding Educator of America for 1974-75. Pat was a member of the University of Southwestern Louisiana Faculty Senate from 1972-2000, serving as Secretary from 1999-2000; Popular Culture Conference, San Antonio, Texas – 1991; Conference on College Composition and Communication, Chicago, Illinois – 1990; Louisiana National Teachers Examination Validation Panel, Baton Rouge, Louisiana – 1982; Judge at Louisiana Junior Beta Club Creative Writing Contest, Lafayette, Louisiana – 1989-1994; President, University of Southwestern Louisiana Chapter of American Association of University Professors – 1979, Treasurer – 1988, Editor – 1973-1978; Alpha Phi Sigma, Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, Marquis Who’s Who Top Professional Award, Marquis Who’s Who Humanitarian Award.
Pat was also a Real Estate salesperson for Lafayette Realty from 1969-1973, and a model for Winds of Change Benefit for Children’s Shelter, in 1989.
Pat was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Lafayette and served on the choir for many years, as well as serving in other areas.
Pat loved gardening, reading, playing piano and exercising.
Pat was always joyful and smiling and said many times that her middle name was ‘Joy,’ and she was going to live a life full of Joy.
Pat was preceded in death by her loving husband of 35 years, Gordon Robertson, Jr., by her parents, Walter and Lela Calloway, and sisters, M. Wanda Conaway and Nancy A. Thomas.
Those left to cherish her memory include her sister, Teresa (Terry) Callis, several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, many cousins and many wonderful friends.
The family would like to thank all the caregivers that have shown love and compassion and helped the family to care for Pat.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Lafayette, 1130 Johnston Street, Lafayette, Louisiana 70501, or to The American Cancer Society at cancer.org/hope.