Patsy Lawson

Patsy Fay Hatfield Lawson, an award-winning psychology professor, therapist and storyteller, and a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother died on November 2, 2024 in Naples, Florida after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 77. Patsy was born on August 15, 1947, near Sneedville in Hancock County, Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her beloved father Ewing (L.E.) Hatfield, truck driver, farmer, and politician; her beloved mother Minnie Greene Hatfield, a superb cook, farmer, and host; her brothers Howard (Betty) Hatfield of Fort Mill, South Carolina, Larry (L.C.) (Mary Kay) Hatfield of Morristown, Tennessee, and Dr. Charles N. (Newman) (Judie) Hatfield of Maryville, Tennessee. She was also preceded by 16 Greene and Hatfield aunts and uncles who provided much content for her Appalachian stories. Patsy was survived by her husband of 55 years, Herman Lawson; two sons, Cree (Marisa) Lawson of Naples and Dr. Wyeth (Cristina) Lawson of New Orleans; grandsons Madden (12), Cash (10), Arlo (9), and Callum Kyle (6). She was also survived by sister-in-law Judie Hunter Hatfield, nephews Scott (Peytie) Hatfield, Alan (Suzanne) Hatfield, Dr. Britt Hatfield, and Mark Hatfield; nieces Jenny (Brian) Hatfield Howard, Carla Hatfield, Zane (Alan) Burge and a host of great nephews, great nieces, and cousins. Patsy won the Outstanding Faculty Award from Volunteer State Community College twice. She will be remembered for her sparkplug personality and her NPR-recognized stories, which swerved delicately between the silly and the sublime. She was a 5-foot-tall Appalachian original and will be missed by everyone she taught, counseled, told stories to, or knew personally.