Patricia Dillard

Patricia Slemons Dillard, 78, of Moore, SC, went to be with Jesus on Sunday, July 17, 2016. Born April 6, 1938, in Spartanburg, SC, Pat was the daughter of the late Enoch James and Tommy Lucile Miller Slemons. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Frank Edwin Dillard. Pat grew up in Spartanburg, graduating from Spartanburg High School and Converse College where she earned a BA in Music Education and a Masters in Piano Performance. Her love of music led to a life of teaching and performing piano. She taught music and served as the head of the Music Department at Spartanburg Day School for 34 years. She spent 49 years working with the Spartanburg Little Theater, beginning as the accompanist at age 16, and eventually becoming the Musical Director. She taught piano privately for over 50 years. She loved her students, past and present, with all her heart and considered them her "children". Pat also played piano for churches and helped write the Christian Musical "I Wonder" with Ronald Wells and Don Sturrock, which was performed in prisons for decades. Music was like breathing to her, and she thrived because of it. She loved touching others' lives with and through music. Pat was also active in her church, First Baptist Spartanburg, where she faithfully attended her entire life. Surviving are her son, Reverend Britt Manning Dillard (Canella) and her daughter, Terri Dillard Gowdy (Trey); four grandchildren, Aubrey Dillard Welborn (Michael), Logan Frank Dillard, Harold Watson Gowdy, IV, and Abigail Anderson Gowdy; siblings, Lynda Slemons Putnam (Jerry) and James Terry Slemons (Sheila); and a sister-in-law, Juanita Dillard. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by a sister, Carolyn Slemons Hatfield. Visitation for Pat will be 1:00-2:45 PM Thursday, July 21, 2016, at First Baptist Church Spartanburg. A Celebration Service honoring her life will follow at 3:00 PM, officiated by The Reverend Dr. Donald J. Wilton, The Reverend Sal Barone, and The Reverend Caz McCaslin. Entombment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Heritage Chapel Mausoleum, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29307. Pallbearers are David Dennis, Sr., Mike Crook, Al Clark, Cole Young, Greg Bowie, David Lawson, Steve Garrett, and Michael Latzka. Honorary escort will be the McCaslin Life Group of First Baptist Church Spartanburg. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Media Ministry of First Baptist Church Spartanburg, 250 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306. Floyd's North Church Street Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Patricia Slemons Dillard please visit our Sympathy Store.