Bessie Patterson

Bessie Patterson is one of the co-founders of a Women’s Prayer Ministry that meets every Monday. This ministry was established to pray for the ills of the City and world. For several years, she served as worship leader for the Great Lakes District Baptist Congress. She also served as the Music Coordinator for the Baptist Ministers' Conference of Buffalo and Vicinity for more than 40 years, the Annual Gospel Fest Coordinator, since its inception in 1987, and 11 years as the Coordinator of the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Program, held each year in January.

Ms. Patterson’s musical contribution enabled her to sing, “How I Got Over” at a history-making event in Part 16 of the City Court of Buffalo for the Inauguration Ceremony of Judge Rose Sconiers. That same year, Bessie was chosen to be one of the Choir Co-Chairs, along with Alan Forbes, for the Billy Graham Crusade that was held in what was then known as ”Pilot Field Stadium.” Later that same year, she was a recipient of the “Black Achievers Award” given by 1490 Enterprise.

Her musical talent has taken her across this country, singing and recording with her own group, “The Patterson Specials,” the Lucie Campbell Workshop of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Inc., the James Cleveland Workshop of America, where she is a featured soloist, and on the “Order My Steps Album" with the Women of Worship Choir, singing “I Need A Touch.”

She has opened for such greats as the late Julius Cheeks & the Four Knights in Lake City, Florida, the late James Cleveland at Shiloh Baptist Church, and for Wintley A. Phipps at the Center for the Arts, North Campus at the University of Buffalo. She is also a musician for the Ascending Baptist Church and served as musician for the Moots Center Choir and the St. John Tower Choir. Amec Records of Arizona did a live recording in 2003, featuring “Bessie Patterson and Friends” (a choir of 100+) at the St. John Baptist Church.

Ms. Patterson is the 7th of 13 children born to Rev. Frank and Marietta Daniels, and the mother of four children, 5 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.