Patricia Fair Prather
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Colonel (Retired U.S. Army) Patricia Fair Prather
A graveside service for family and close friends of Patricia Fair Prather will be held at 3:00 PM
Saturday, March 27, 2021 at Greenlawn Memorial Park, Columbia, South Carolina.
Colonel (U.S. Army Retired) Patricia Fair Prather, aged 72, died on March 23rd at the Autumn
Care Assisted Living facility in Fayetteville, NC, with her sister, Chris Yeager, by her side. Pat
was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2014 and courageously lived out her final years with the
same faith, dignity and compassion for her fellow man that she demonstrated throughout her
life. Pat was born March, 23, 1949 in Fort Belvoir, Virginia to Lewis D. Prather and Caroline
Summers Prather. After graduating with a BS in Nursing from Duke University in 1971, she
spent five years as a civilian nurse at Duke University Medical Center and the Atlanta VA
Medical center before joining the U.S. Army in 1976. She completed both the AMEDD Officer
Basic and Advanced Course where she was recognized as the Outstanding Honor Graduate. In
1981, she graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Masters in Nursing
Administration. Her military awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal
with five oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with 3 leaf clusters, the Army
Achievement Medal, and the Order of Military Merit. Throughout Pat's travels with the military,
she maintained many close friendships. She was an active member of the church and choral
groups. After retirement, Pat remained in Columbia, SC to be close to family and to lovingly act as her
mother, Caroline Prather's, primary caregiver. She was an active member of Kathwood Baptist
Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir and serving as a deacon. She was also an active
member of the Columbia Choral Society. Pat was predeceased by her parents, Lewis and Caroline Prather of Columbia, SC, and her brother, Doug Prather, of Durham, NC. She is survived by her sisters Christine Yeager (William) of Fayetteville, NC, and Nell Staes (Charles) of Beaufort, SC and her nieces and nephews Jenny
Kaplan (Jordan) and their children Benjamin, Harper and Everette of Washington DC, Caroline
Yeager of Greenville, SC, Cameron Yost (Jacob) and their son, James, of Charleston, SC,
William Yeager (McKendree) of Hollywood, CA, and Lewis Stover (Kate) of Atlanta GA.
Pat leaves us with a legacy of love for her family and friends, her faith, and caring for others.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Kathwood Baptist Church at 4900 Trenholm Road,
Columbia, SC 29206. Funeral arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, N.C. 28301. Online condolences may be made at http://www.jerniganwarren.com