Patsy Burgiss Sanders , September 03, 1927 — July 17, 2018

OBITUARY Patsy Burgiss Sanders September 3, 1927 – July 17, 2018 Patsy Burgiss Sanders, a native of Alleghany County, NC who spent most of her work life as a pharmacist in Rowan and Cabarrus counties, died July 17, 2018 in Charlotte. Born September 3, 1927 in Sparta, NC, she is survived by her three daughters and their husbands, Sherri S. Whitesell (Phil) of Charlotte, Niki S. Moseley (Dan) of Concord and Charlotte S. Barringer (Gary) of Huntersville. Her four grandchildren, who knew her as “Mama Pat,” include Geoffrey Whitesell and Adam Barringer, both of Colorado, Emily Whitesell Elliott of Nags Head and Sara Barringer of Alabama.

She was also survived by her great-grandchildren, Julian and Madelyn Elliott of Nags Head; her brother, Tom (Nancy) Burgiss of Laurel Springs, NC; and three nephews, Tim, Brant and John Burgiss. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charl H. Sanders, who died in 1982, and her parents, T. Roy and Lora Reeves Burgiss, both of Sparta. Pat was one of the early female pharmacy students at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she graduated in 1948 and earned induction in Rho Chi, the pharmacy honor society.

She was one of five family graduates from the UNC School of Pharmacy, including her father, husband, brother and daughter, Sherri Whitesell. She was the first woman to head a hospital pharmacy in the state and for 25 years directed a staff of more than 20 pharmacists and technicians at Rowan Memorial Hospital in Salisbury, now Novant Health Rowan Medical Center. During much of that time her late husband Charl owned and operated Granite Drug Co. in Granite Quarry.

Previously, both of them worked at pharmacies in Wilmington, Sparta, Kannapolis and Concord. When Pat left hospital pharmacy she took up retirement with enthusiasm by buying a touring bicycle and renewing her passport. In the ensuing years she biked through England, Ireland, Holland, France and Austria, and toured six continents.

She made sure her grandchildren caught the travel bug with trips to London, Paris, Alaska, Mexico and points in between. The family is grateful to Alisa Wallace, CNA, and the staff of Southminster in Charlotte for their personal care and concern for Pat, and to Hospice & Palliative Care of South Charlotte. Services for Pat will be private.

Memorials should be made to the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, P.O. Box 338, Thomasville, NC, 27360.

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