Craig Jarvis Patterson

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Revelation 21:4

Craig Jarvis Patterson was born March 21, 1970, to the late Christine Patterson. He passed away unexpectedly on April 21, 2026, at Catawba Valley Medical Center.

At an early age, he came to Hickory to live with Judy McCorkle, his “bonus mom,” where he was raised by the entire McCorkle family, who loved him dearly.

Craig accepted Christ at an early age at Mount Zion Baptist Church under the tutelage of the late Diane Flowers Dula, where he served as an usher and sang in the children’s choir.

Craig attended Hickory High School, where he played JV football and was a member of the Class of 1989. He later earned his GED and worked as a truck driver.

Craig was a son, a father, a big brother, and an uncle. He was an avid football fan of the Carolina Panthers and a basketball fan of the North Carolina Tar Heels.

In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, Hattie Patterson and Sam Witherspoon, and Alfred and Flora McCorkle; his aunts, Marie Copeland, Carolyn Scurry, Terry Propst, and Jurstine Patterson; and his uncles, Eddie and Gary Patterson.

Craig’s precious memories will always remain in the hearts of his daughter, Venus Patterson of Delaware, and his son, CJ Patterson of New York City; his sisters, Tammy Patterson of Pittsburgh, PA, Yolanda “Peaches” McCorkle of Hickory, Africa (Frederick) Sharpe of Clayton, NC, Flora “Risha” McCorkle of Hickory, AlexZandra Pantene McCorkle of Charlotte, NC, Shakia Witherspoon of Lenoir, Carinda Powell of Hickory, LaRonya Teague of Taylorsville, NC, April Crawl of Raleigh, NC, and DeAndra Smith of Conover; his brothers, Chris (Ashley) Patterson of Lenoir, NC, Cassidy (Heather) McCorkle of Hickory, Raymond Patterson of Greensboro, NC, Marquis Witherspoon, and Julian Kenan of Lenoir, NC; along with a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Aunts and uncles include Josephine (Wesley) Christopher of Hickory, NC, Shirley Patterson of Lenoir, NC, Sandra and Glenda McCorkle of Hickory, NC, Karen Brice of Catawba, NC, Bea Colbert of Lenoir, NC, great-aunt Lela Johnson of Hickory, NC, and uncles Stephen and Johnny McCorkle and Michael Cosby, all of Hickory, NC.

Long live our Saucer, PeeWee, Ghost Man, Big Boy, CJP.

The family will receive friends 12:30-1pm, Friday, May 1, 2026 in Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel. The funeral service will be at 1pm in the Chapel with the burial following at Southside Cemetery located at 315 14th Avenue, Drive, SW, Hickory, NC 28602.

Please sign the online guestbook on the Memorial Wall at www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net. The Patterson family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Newton 828-464-1555.