Patricia “Pat” Akin

Patricia Hansard Akin

March 28, 1932 – June 12, 2024

Patricia “Pat” Akin passed away at home in Suwanee, GA early in the morning on June 12, 2024. She had suffered with grace and laughter while being bedbound for 2 ½ years from a broken hip, still participating in women’s bible study and keeping up with all the British mystery shows with her family.

Pat was born at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta on March 28, 1932. In 1937 she sustained a skinned knee that led to a life-threatening infection in her left hip – in that pre-antibiotic time, the medical team simply removed her hip joint and did their best to keep her alive. It was during this long hospitalization at age 5 that Pat first dreamed of becoming a nurse. After spending a year in a full-body cast and delaying her first year of school, she overcame many physical limitations to graduate from Brown High School in West End in 1950, heading straight to nursing school at Crawford Long. A stint at UNC – Chapel Hill during 1956-1958 led to an associate degree in Public Health, which she put to use in her some 25+ years as a county and state public health nurse.

Throughout her life, Pat was a devoted follower of Jesus, always seeking ways to serve Him in the Body of Christ. She wholeheartedly threw herself into working with youth, singing in the choir, or participating in the United Methodist Women in each church she called home. She tended to everyone, be it family or friend, using her nursing skills to care for all she met in life. After diligent genealogy research, she became a proud member of the Georgia chapter of the DAR. Pat’s passions throughout her 92 years included reading, camping and the outdoors, traveling, Bible study, and loving on her dear friends and family.

Pat is survived by her family:

Daughter, Phyllis Akin Remke, husband Matt Remke of Suwanee

Son, Phillip Akin, fiancé Tracy Poole of Gainesville

Grandchildren, Benjamin Remke, Patrick Remke and Kathryn Remke

Sister-in-Law, Nancy Hansard of Braselton

Cousin, Mary Lou Stephens of Gainesville

Many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and -nephews

She was preceded in death by her parents, mother Ethel Davis Hansard and father James Peyton Hansard; brothers James Peyton Hansard, Jr. and William Henry Hansard II; daughter Patricia Ann Turpin; grandson Samuel James Remke.

There will be a time of visitation at Flanigan Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life Service at Duluth First UMC will be held on Wednesday, June 19 with visitation at 10:00 a.m., service at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon reception in the fellowship hall. Entombment will be at Broadlawn Memorial Gardens in Buford at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to:

• The United Methodist Women of Duluth First UMC, 3208 Duluth Hwy 120, Duluth, GA 30096

• The BLOCK Community Outreach, 4600 Nelson Brogdon Blvd, Suite B, Sugar Hill, GA 30518

To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www.flaniganfuneralhome.com. Arrangements By: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA (770) 932-1133.