Patricia Frontier Maddox

Patricia Frontier Maddox, age 73, of Avondale Estates, Ga. passed away Thursday, February 25, 2021, surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert Ernest Frontier & Joyce McNamara Frontier.

Mrs. Maddox is survived by her loving husband, David Lee Maddox of Avondale Estates, Ga. She and her husband created a beautiful blended family grounded in friendship and love for the past 34 years. She is also survived by their 4 children, Tracey Mashburn Johnson & husband Jonny Johnson, Colbert, Ga., Patricia Mashburn Froedge & husband Michael Froedge, Avondale Estates, Ga., Brent Maddox & wife Alyssa Maddox, Nashville, Tn., Whitney Maddox Sansone & husband Michael Sansone, Kennesaw, Ga.

Mrs. Maddox is survived by her sister Mary Shaw, Between, Ga., brother Phil Frontier & wife Delaine Frontier, Lilburn, Ga., brother-in-law Jamie Maddox & wife Carolyn Maddox, Lilburn, Ga., sister-in-law Maxine Rosecrans, Stone Mountain, Ga.

Also known as Aunt Pat to many, she is survived by Phil Shaw (who first stole her heart as an Aunt) & wife Patti Shaw, Heather Shaw, John Frontier, Jeffrey Frontier, Brian Cawhern & wife Jenni, Scott Cawhern & wife Elisha Cawhern, Alan Maddox & wife Shannon Maddox, Brian Maddox & husband Craig Banks, Kelly Rucks, Michael Shaw & wife Rebecca Shaw, Brooke Shaw, Jessica Allen, Elijah Rucks, Taylor Maddox, Jacob Maddox, Tyler Faircloth, Emily Stribling, and Sam Stribling.

She is survived by her dear Chicago cousins; Monica Keane & husband Mike Rekruciak, Jim Frontier & wife Kathi Frontier, Mike Frontier & wife Anne Frontier, Gary Frontier, Jane Frontier Twomey & husband Kevin Twomey, and her treasured cousin Phil York & husband Greg Adkisson of California, and always her son-in-law, Che Bowers, Decatur, Ga.

Known as Mama Pat by her pride & joy, she is survived by her 11 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren:

Burl Johnson, V & wife Jessica Johnson

Wesley Johnson

Ethan Bowers

Hannah Bowers

Kyra Sansone

Petey Sansone

Lucy Sansone

Evie Maddox

Julia Froedge

Patrick Froedge

Lottie Maddox

Olivia Johnson

Madison Johnson

Known mostly as Pat to the beautiful community she created around her, she leaves a legacy of love for all who knew her.

Pat was born on October 20, 1947, in Oak Park, Illinois. Her father fell in love with the south while traveling for business, and moved his family of five plus his mother-in-law to #1 Fairfield Plaza a year later, where her lifelong love of Avondale Estates would begin. She was known for her skills as a competitive swimmer, her kindness, and her thoughtful nature growing up.

Avondale Estates was her home where her spirit shined through family, friends, the Avondale Swim & Tennis Club, anything related to The Community Club, and all the community

gatherings that brought people together. She was Avondale’s biggest cheerleader and the glue that kept people together. She found joy in being a member of the Avondale Tree Committee, Avondale Women’s Club & Avondale Estates Garden Club, and was involved in all things related to her beloved AHS as a class of 1965 Avondale High School graduate.

She was a natural organizer, which went well with her secretarial skills she gained at Dekalb Tech. She was the Media Assistant at Avondale Elementary and Avondale High School until 1986, when she became a legal assistant until her retirement. Her heart appeared in all she chose to do and the lives she touched in and out of work.

Her favorite place to be was in nature, where she could sow more seeds of love in her garden. It was a space she created to bring her closer to God, Mother Nature, and her very own mother. Her garden became a beloved spot to gather and spend time with family and friends. She leaves behind strong roots, and many hearts to water the seeds she planted for all to enjoy as we live out her legacy of kindness, love, and care.

Her grandchildren were her heart and soul. You could take a stroll on the path she created and find traces of her love for each of them in every step she took, along with all of the memories she collected with her husband beside her in all she did. She taught her children to marry your best friend and that family comes in all shapes and sizes.

The leading advice she always gave was “Follow your heart. Everything always works out when you do.” Everything she did had meaning behind it that grew out of love & care for others.

The family asks that you honor her by doing just that, by being kind to yourselves and others, because that’s what she would want most as we find a way to move forward from here. And if you would like to throw on some red lipstick while doing so that would truly celebrate her life and the way she left with grace, kindness, and beauty from the inside out.

The last nine months came with many acute situations around Pat’s health and eventually the knowledge that Poly-Myositis Autoimmune Disease & Antisynthetase Syndrome was the source underneath it all. She moved through these conditions with courage, grace, patience & commitment while continuing to model strength and love to those around her, even as she had to endure so much at a safe distance from all she loved. She left this world in a heroic, graceful way, just as she had exhibited her whole life, championing for those she loved and the beliefs she carried simply by the way she lived and treated others.

Her Family expresses gratitude for all of your love and support. Per Pat’s request due to the pandemic and through her thoughtful ways, there will be a memorial celebration of her life in the springtime (or when it is safe to do so). Details will be posted in time about an exact date and location in Avondale Estates where much of her heart still resides.