Alfonza Lee Patton , aka "Fonza" was born to the late Robert and Virginia Patton June 14, 1941 in Milstead, Alabama.  He transitioned from this life to everlasting life on Tuesday, August 29, 2017.  He valiantly fought pancreatic cancer 4 years ago which has a very slim survival rate of 1%.  God graced him to be in that 1%.  The family praised the Lord that he should have such favorwhile surviving prostate cancer too.  The pancreatic cancer returned in May, 2017 and he suffered pneumonia; this time God had other plans!

During his youth, Fonza attended and joined Walker's Chapel AME Zion Church in Tuskegee, Alabama with his parents.  He graduated from high school and joined the Armed Forces September 25, 1958 and served admirably for two years before receiving an honorable discharge in September, 1960.

Following in his big sister's (Bobbie) footsteps, Fonza relocated to Elmsford, New York and stayed with their uncle and aunt, Joseph and Elizabeth Chapman.  He worked at Westchester Medical Center and General Motors for a few years.During the early '60s, they had a singing group named "Al and the Supremes".  Fonza could sing too!  He and Earl used to love to clown around singing like they were at the Apollo!  The singing group included his first love, the former Maxine LaverneBrowning and they married June, 21, 1963.  That union produced 3 children: Yvette Patricia, Anthony Lee and DeAnnaMichelle, the light of his life. However, his daughters preceded him in death at young ages.  He was acquainted with grief and sorrow and even questioned his faith, but never gave up.  He always used to say, he knows she can't come back to him but he will get to see her again one day!  He even saw her in a dream.As life would have it, Maxine and Fonza divorced in 1974 but remained friends to the day of his passing.  She called him often.

Fonza relocated to Long Island and worked at IMC Magnetics in Westbury where he met a supervisor who was this short, spunkywomanwith a funny laugh, who spoke her mind named, Annie Lilly Fuller.Fonza was smitten!  It is with Anne he would spend the rest of his life; over 43 years together.  They both had a son close in age (Tony & Eugene) and settled down in a little doll house in Roosevelt, New York.  They were together through thick and thin, ups and downs.  Fonza raised his stepson like his own, who was there with him to the end.  Fonza moved his family to Freeport, New York (again near his big sister Bobbie) in the 70s!  He and his younger brother Robert Earl (who preceded him in death) would help her drive her girls Southto spend summers with their parent's home in Alabama.  He also babysat them– they teased him that he made the soupiest oatmeal ever, but that just showed how he was willing to help his family when times got rough!  He loved to laugh and talk, an avid football fan, he was a gentle man, and never raised his voice but you knew when he meant business!  Fonza was also once an active member of the Masonic Lodge before moving South.

Retirement came and Alfonza and Anne had their dream home built in Brierfield, Alabama.  After selling their home in Freeport they moved in August 2008.  They returned to their roots and lived there for 5 yearswhen sickness and sorrow began to invade his life again.  He briefly worked at Home Depot and loved it; however he got ill and could not continue.  He loved interacting with people. He survived the death of his best friend and younger brother Earl, one year after the move.  Five years from the move, his beloved wife, Annie Lilly Patton, succumb to cancer, but Fonza still had his two sons and now many grandchildren and great grands that he loved to talk about and was so proud of the things they all were doing!

Fonza was a fighter!When cancer came around the first time, he knew God was not ready for him just yet and he was fine with it and did what he had to do to overcome.  When asked, he would always say, "I'm doing alright, doing okay".  His legacy is that he never gave up; and didn't until he realized the fight was over.  He was still planning his life;eager to get out the hospital (from the surgery) to pay his bills (go figure), look at finding another place to live and working to get strong to begin chemo treatments.  He was only able to withstand two when God said it's time.  So in his latter days, his life tells family and friends:

"I fought a good fight, I finished my course,

I kept the faith.

Henceforth, is laid up for me a crown of

Righteousness!"  (2 Timothy 4:7,8)

"Where I am going, there is no cancer,

Where I am going, there is no pain.

Where I am going there is no suffering

Where I am, there is peace.

Don't cry for me, nor worry about me."

"I am alright."

I love you and appreciate you all.

Fonza leaves to cherish his memory his son Anthony Lee (Mae) of Stockton, CA, his stepson Eugene Fuller of Brierfield, Ala;, 4 siblings: Bobbie Barksdale of Jonesboro, GA, Marvin (Lateefah) Patton of Tuskegee, Ala., Ginger P. Jackson of Tuskegee, Ala, and Jacqueline Patton of Tuskegee, Ala.; 3 brother in laws and 4 sister in laws; ex brother in law William Barksdale of Farmingdale, NY; 4 nieces: Valarie Barksdale of York, Pennsylvania, Linda Overton of Queens Village, Gwendolyn Barksdale of Queens Village, Antoinette Lewis of Yonkers, NY and 1 nephew: Cleveland D. Jackson (Joy) of Montgomery, Ala.;five grandchildren: Bobby, Richard, Tanisha, Latricia and Latifah; 5 step grands: Brandon, Bryan, Brianna, Isaiah and David;8 great grandchildren, many close cousins andfriends, and a host of other relatives.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, sept. 9, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Carlton Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Brierfield, AL with burial on Monday, Sept. 11 at 11;00 a.m. at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, AL with Military Honors