Published in the South Suburban News on May 29, 2026

Patricia Rush

 Patricia Ann Rush was born on Monday, March 24, 1947 in Dekalb, Missississippi, to the union of Willie Olden and Irene Rush. In 1951, her family migrated to East Heights, Illinois where Patricia and her seven sisters and four brothers were raised in the Baptist Church and attended Christian Valley Missionary Baptist Church. As the third of twelve children, her character was profoundly shaped by growing up in a large family.  Patricia loved being a caregiver to others and was quick to step in to help her younger siblings, nieces, nephews, and anyone else in need of some TLC. As a self-proclaimed daddy's girl, Pat loved cooking her father's favorite dishes and enjoyed cooking for the rest of the family just as much. In fact, cooking became one of her favorite pastimes as she was well known for taking over everyone's kitchen whenever she came to visit.

Pat also enjoyed skating, art, and reading. In high school, she worked for Kline's Department Store dressing mannequins, and for A&W Root Beer, where she served drive-in customers on roller skates. Patricia attended Cottage Grove Elementary School and graduated from Bloom Township High School in 1965. Pat married Vird Barker, Sr., and together they had three children: Vird, Jr., Virnita, and Vincent. Inspired by her sisters and the song "California Dreamin'," they moved to Los Angeles in 1970. After a year, they moved back to East Heights after a 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Los Angeles area. Pat cherished her time there and frequently returned to California for visits.

Always motivated to learn something new, Pat attended Prairie State College and became the first person in her family to earn a college degree. While at PSC, she met Lorenzo E. Martin, and they eventually went on to marry. Two children were born to that union, Dakari and Olivia. Pat continued her studies at Chicago State University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and returned to teach in the school district she had once attended.

When her husband Lorenzo began plans for a newspaper in 1979, Pat was there to help, and together they launched Standard Newspaper in the basement of their home in Chicago Heights. For the next thirty years, they covered the news together, never missing an important happening in the south suburbs of Chicago.

 Since she was a young girl, Pat had a reputation as a fighter, whether defending her brothers and sisters or standing up for others. That same determination carried into her public life, where, in the late 1990s, she served as the first black female president of the District 170 School Board. She later was a candidate for Mayor of Chicago Heights.

Pat loved to shop, and she was especially happy when she could combine shopping with travel, as she was an avid traveler who explored destinations throughout the United States and abroad, including: Barbados, Jamaica, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, Colombia, Saipan, Jordan, South Africa, Libya, Mexico, France, and too many more to name. Always eager to explore new places, she was willing to go anywhere at least once. While she enjoyed collecting things she found on her travels or frequent trips to T.J. Maxx, it brought her just as much joy to give items away to anyone who admired or desired them.

After retiring as an administrator for the Cook County Forest Preserve in 2008, Pat moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to be closer to her extended family and to make it easier to contribute to the development of the family estate in DeKalb, Mississippi. In 2015, Patricia married Ronald Brown, and they moved to Pensacola, Florida. In 2020, she returned to the Atlanta area.

As Pat explored family history and genealogy, she was inspired to bring her family together by starting the first Rush Reunion in 1982, and the tradition continues to this day. Family was always central to Pat's life, and she made a conscious effort to be present for all of the important milestones in her family's lives. Whether near or far, she found ways to show up for birthdays, celebrations, graduations, and special occasions that marked the moments that mattered most. She was especially known for always remembering everyone's birthday and making each person feel acknowledged and valued. Her love for her family was evident in both the big gestures and the small thoughtful ways she stayed connected throughout their lives.

Patricia is preceded in death by her parents, Willie Olden and Irene Rush, and her brothers, Russell Rush and Locell Rush.

Patricia leaves to celebrate her life, her children, Vird Barker, Jr., Virnita (Amos) Daniel, Vincent (Leslie) Barker, Dakari Martin, Olivia (Eric) Blackall; sisters and brothers: Thelma Jean Hazel, Willie (Lucretia) Rush, Olivia Clemons, Leroy (Kathy) Rush, Marlene (Keith) Pinkney, Sandra Rush, Iris (Johnny) Daniels, Ava Ball, Rita Coure; grandchildren: Sade (James) Harden, Ashanti (Taymar) George, Vincent T. Barker, Tyrise Barker, Shemekea (Gary) Megazzini, Christina Barker, Lia Syeedah Phang, Khadijah Daniel, Kareem Daniel, Brooke Blacknall, Chloe Blacknall, Alyssa Blacknall, Eric Blacknall, IV, greatgrandchildren: Elijah Harden, Isaiah Harden, Layla Phang, Christopher Tribble, Damian Barker, Gary Megazzini, Karma Barker, Journey Barker, Sophia Megazzini, Luna Barker, Bellamy Fortin, Caleigh Davis, Emmitt Megazzini, Jayce Barker, Layla Barker, and a host of nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins, distant relatives, and dear friends.