Miss Little Patterson

Donjae Elysse Lea Patterson I'm sorry Mommy I left you so soon, I was there when the angels woke you up in the room…I know I was gone in a flash, right from the start…Mommy Remember! I'll always be in your heart! Donjae Elysse Lea Patterson was born on April 13, 2000 to Lea Patterson and Donald Patterson in Denver, Colorado. She was the third of four daughters. Her family and close friends affectionately called her Jae`- Jae`. Donjae attended Prairie Middle School and was in the 7th grade. She received a Certificate of Continuation; she was an Honor Roll Student and voted Student of the Month by her classmates. Donjae was loved by her teachers and classmates. She loved school and looked forward to attending! She attended the AIM Convention in Houston, Texas and actually got to attend the live recording for one of her favourite groups, the Clark Sisters. She was a member of the Odom Memorial Sunshine Band and Youth Choir and most importantly a faithful Member and supporter of Pastor McDonald! Donjae had the attitude that she could accomplish anything she set her mind to do. At a very early age, she was on a mission, it always seemed as though she had somewhere to go! There were times she walked so much, everyone in the house would tell her she had a "Walking spirit on her." She shared many holidays, birthdays and the infamous "Just because McDonald Parties" with her family! She loved to eat, chocolate chip cookies from McDonald's and especially loved her grandfather's gumbo and homemade waffles! She always looked forward to the Snickers from her Uncle Rene! As a toddler, Donjae enjoyed being outside with her Dad helping in the yard; she loved being outdoors and going to the park. Donjae's favourite pass-time was watching movies and listening to music. She could spend hours watching her two favourite movies Hannah Montana and Secretariat and she did not mind asking everyone to be quiet or to move out of her way! She loved being with family, going to parties and cherished spending quality time with her mom and sisters! Donjae enjoyed going to Disney World and Disney Land. She enjoyed listening to music…Yes…even Donjae had a crush on Justin Beiber! Donjae loved to look FABULOUS, and loved the camera; she was always Photo Bombing in everyone's picture! From a little girl, she would always sit and cross her legs with her hands positioned on her knee in just the right place. While she was definitely a DIVA, she was not your typical little girl. Donjae took pleasure in playing cars and trucks with her boy cousins, but could switch at a moment's notice and ask her Auntie Chalice to put on eye shadow and lip-gloss so her lips could POP! Donjae also loved going to her Granny's house because she knew that Granny would paint her nails a vibrant red color every time! Donjae was a natural born DIVA! Donjae could not have been loved and cared for any better than by her devoted Caregiver and Grandmother Ann McDonald, they shared so many special moments! Donjae had her own way of letting Maw-Maw know just what she wanted and Maw-Maw never failed to meet her needs! One of their special moments was every morning when Maw-Maw walked into the room, she would say, "Good morning Donjae, and then they would say, Good morning Jesus! It's me…Donjae, Maw-Maw and Anaiah would chime in and say…What about me? It's Anaiah too!" Precious, precious memories! Her loving and caring grandfather, Vincent McDonald, also cared for her, he was her patient-advocate, and she would call on him if she felt someone was not doing right by her or to get her some ice from Sonics! She was also cared for by her great-aunt Emma Cooper, her aunts Chalice, Shante, Teneshia and Vanette; her devoted sisters Dawneshia and Alexis and most of all her movie watching, ice-eating, lap-riding buddy and confidant baby sister Anaiah Patterson, the Jr. Caregiver. The ULTIMATE CAREGIVER, her mommy, was dedicated and never gave up! Lea, as Donjae would jokingly call her, had that motherly way; she could make Donjae light-up and laugh like no one else could! She was her Rock! Donjae's life was way too short, but those who were touched by her understood that she was here for a season and a purpose! Her quality of existence far exceeded the quantity of time in which one lives. Her infectious sense of humor, lively laugh, gentle smile, constant and unwavering FAITH, her enduring spirit brought so much joy to her family and everyone she came in contact with! Although she was so young, and was constantly enduring more than any child should ever have to endure, she gave us all such courage and hope and reminded us of the preciousness of life. She continuously sang her testimony, "Encourage Yourself!" Donjae spent much of her time and energy as an encourager to family members and everyone she met! She often encouraged her mother to trust God and be strong when she didn't always receive favourable news. Donjae would look at her mother and say, "Are you crying, Stop crying!" She was the most selfless child! She always put others needs and concerns before hers! Once while attending a family reunion in Chicago, Donjae, who could not swim, jumped into the swimming pool and SAVED her cousin Devon, who thought for some strange reason he could swim. Donjae screamed his name over and over, and when no one responded, she jumped in and pulled him up out of the water, having to be saved herself! She never gave it a second thought! In the end, Donjae had lost her ability to walk, but her faith remained unwavering! Her mom would often ask her, when she would walk again, Donjae would always respond, "God said, not yet!" She did not mind waiting on the Lord and NEVER COMPLAINED! Donjae was resilient and always saw the glass as half full, she didn't let circumstances stop her; she found another way to walk! She used her Uncles` Eddie, Robert, Steve and Jason as her legs! Always reminding them! "DON'T DROP ME!" Donjae Elysse Lea Patterson truly was an Angel on Earth and was granted her angel wings on April 16, 2013 surrounded by family and friends that she had touched in some small way throughout her short, yet very memorable life. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather David L. Patterson, maternal great-grandparents: Arthur and Bessie Cooper, Bishop William and Faye McDonald. Those left to cherish her memory include her Loving and Devoted mother, Lea Patterson of Aurora, CO. Her father Donald Patterson, Denver, CO, sisters Alexis McDonald, Dawneshia Patterson and Anaiah Patterson all of Aurora, CO; maternal grandparents Vincent and Ann McDonald; paternal grandmother Loretta Patterson, Aunts: Shirley A. (Glenn) Whayne, Denver, CO, Queen E. (Alan) Whayne, Denver, CO, Uncles: Ronald Patterson, Denver, CO, Donell Patterson, Denver, CO, David E. Patterson, Denver, CO Vanette L. (Edward) Stewart Aurora, CO, Shante R. (Jason) Cochran, Denver, CO, Chalice A. (Robert) Carver, Aurora, CO, Teneshia D. (Steve) Venerable, Olathe, KS. Her loving Godparents: Adolph and Claudine McDonald, Special Aunts: Jessica Short, JaNiece Jefferson, Trisha Fields, Patricia Brown, Tameka McDonald, Odom Memorial Church Family and a host of aunts, uncles, great-aunts, great-uncles, cousins, classmates, and many, many friends. In the words of Donjae Elysse Lea Patterson, PEACE OUT!

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funeral Cremation Reception - 6601 East Colfax Ave, Denver, CO
Visitation: 4/26/2013 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Ave, Denver, CO
Service: 4/27/2013 at 10:00 AM - Odom Memorial Church of God In Christ - 3301 Williams Street, Denver, CO
Cemetery: 4/27/2013 - Hampden Memorial Gardens - Denver, CO