Patricia Ann Dykstra

Patricia Ann Sandifer Dykstra

Born June 25, 1937 in Brookhaven, Mississippi

Went to be with the Lord on October 21, 2020 in Greenville, South Carolina

For all of her life, she went by her middle name: Ann.

Ann was the early-summer firstborn child of her parents, Dorsey Rollins Sandifer (1916-1994) and Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Cassidy Sandifer (1918-1981). In 1942, at the age of five, she moved with her parents and siblings from Brookhaven, Mississippi, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she lived until her marriage at the age of sixteen.

Growing up in wartime, then post-war, Baton Rouge, Ann became a young woman of unusual beauty. For the entirety of her life she exemplified ladylike wardrobe, grooming, and deportment. Had she lived to be one hundred or beyond, she would have continued to exude godly femininity, never bowing to the trends of androgyny and dishevelment.

In addition to her parents, Ann was predeceased by her brother Sherrill Edwin (Judy) Sandifer, her sister Linda Jean (Don) Greene, brother-in-law Donald Estalee Greene, her beloved aunt Genevieve Harvey, her uncle Harold Harvey, and cousin Darlene Harvey (Wayland) Adams.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 37 years, Henry Dykstra, Jr.; one brother, Dorsey Sandifer Jr. (Leslee) of Walker, LA; daughters Kay Elizabeth (Philippe) Garreau of Greenville, SC, Jennifer Lynn (Greg) Weber of Columbia, SC, and Patricia Deann (Mike) Dreyer of McKinney, TX; son Patrick Shawn (Rebecca) Plant of Galveston, TX; stepchildren Rae Ellen Leir of Lenexa, KS; Jane Elizabeth Flannigan of Woodland Park, CO; Beth Ann Dykstra of Midland, MI; Laura Jean (Stjepan) Dragash of Anderson, IN; and John Eric (Valerie) Dykstra of Elkhart, IN.

Ann was a spectacular cook, a gifted gardener, an avid reader, a talented speaker, a loyal friend, a devoted wife, and a steadfast matriarch who enjoyed both the love and admiration of her progeny. In every circumstance, whether celebration or crisis, she pointed them to the Lord and to the Word.

Wherever she called home, she created and kept an immaculate, tastefully decorated abode to which she welcomed all visitors with a happy smile.

Always busy with her hands, she was prolific in sewing and needlework, producing dozens of heirloom-quality cross-stitch treasures for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She could make everything from dresses to draperies, and she still ironed her pillowcases.

She was the author of a gospel tract entitled From Darkness to Light, containing her testimony and produced by her church.

Born to travel, she was privileged in her lifetime to see most of the United States and much of the world. She and Henry lived for more than two years in Europe where Ann learned a fair amount of French, with which she often sprinkled her conversation.

She dedicated herself to chronicling the lives and loves and adventures of herself and her large family by the meticulous keeping of dozens of photo albums. Her devotion to her family was plain to see when one entered Ann and Henry’s gracious home and took in the display of framed photos that adorned practically every surface, along with hundreds of books.

Although she possessed scores of cherished friends, neighbors, family members, and acquaintances of all ages, Ann treasured in a special way the very young and the very old, relating to each age group with joy and sincere interest. As such her spirit was everlastingly young and even in the wisdom and perspective of her ninth decade, she retained an active vigor and a distinctly youthful appearance and attitude. Her eyes always sparkled — often with a hint of mischief — and she never forgot to apply her signature red lipstick.

While Ann appreciated the past and learned from it, she did not live in it. She consistently moved forward for all of her days, buoyed by optimism, faith, cheerfulness, and her own unique brand of winsome vivacity.

From the time of her salvation in the summer of 1971 at the age of 34, under the ministry of the Holy Spirit through His servant, the late Pastor Curtis Hutson of Forrest Hills Baptist Church, Decatur, Georgia, Ann was a dedicated student of the Word of God. Wherever she went for the next 49 years, she found a place of service.

Ann was a soul winner and a prayer warrior. She was ever a lady of great humor, charm, and force of personality: a wit and a witness. Having been forgiven much, she practiced forgiveness. She would be the first to say that she was just a sinner, saved by grace.

She will be deeply and dearly missed by all who knew her, and remembered fondly for as long as they live.

Ann had been affiliated with the Evangelical Institute of Greenville since her days as both a student and a staff member in the early ‘80s, and was a faithful member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville since 2008. For the last 12 years she belonged to the George I. Theisen Family YMCA in Travelers Rest, where she was a constant source of inspiration to her aerobics class.

Also surviving are 24 cherished grandchildren and step-grandchildren, listed in order of their birth:

Elisabeth Ann Garreau (Christopher) Folkerts of Twin Falls, ID; Genevieve Simone Garreau (Damon) Frahler of Greenville, SC; Rebecca Lynn Garreau (Rex) Cabaltica of South Bend, IN; Stephanie Ruth Weber (Joel) Bixler of Lenoir, NC; Michael Emile (Marie) Garreau of Greenville, SC; Audrey Ann Weber of Columbia, SC; Elizabeth Jane Marvin (Joshua) Blevins of Grand Junction, CO; Susanna Kay Garreau of Greenville, SC; Kimberly Sue Marvin (Brock) Guildner of Mead, CO; Erica Jean Weber (Chad) Porter of West Columbia, SC; Kyle Thomas Leir of Lenexa, KS; Nancy Rae Aron of Midland, MI; Marc Henri (Whitney) Garreau of High Level, Alberta, Canada; Andrew Guy (Brittany) Weber of Maryville, TN; Katherine Rae Leir of Lenexa, KS; Susannah Clare Dragash (Bryan) Ball of Bloomington, IN; Joanna Kay Joy Garreau (Jacob) Bernhardt of Cleveland, OH; Aaron Kelly (Maggie) Plant of Galveston, TX; Jamie Dykstra (Keaton) Leszek of North Judson, IN; Kelsey Ann Mikala Plant (Preston) Gann of Galveston, TX; David Todd Flannigan of Woodland Park, CO; Joshua Dykstra of Elkhart, IN; Hannah Elizabeth Plant of Galveston, TX; Gabriel Anthony Plant of Galveston, TX.

Ann is further survived by 29 precious great-grandchildren, listed in order of their birth:

Anna Elisabeth Folkerts, Melanie Noel Bixler, Priscilla Kay Folkerts, Lydia Kay Cabaltica, Damaris Faith Folkerts, Emilia Ann Cabaltica, Allissa Joy Bixler, Joshua Philippe “JP” Cabaltica, Tobias Emile Garreau, Elizabeth Rose Leir, Jonathan Xavier Cabaltica, Andrew Joel Bixler, Ellender Marie “Ella” Frahler, Joram Scott Garreau, Simon Clark Garreau, Madelyn Grace Folkerts, Clarissa May “Maisie” Frahler, Dagny Clare Weber, Peyton Elsie Guildner, Marcus Henri Garreau, Jr., Kayla Antoinette Garreau, Paul Emile Frahler, Myles Spencer Garreau, Tyler Darcy Pierre Garreau, Frederic James “Freddie” Bernhardt, Ember Rae Weber, Story Kate Garreau, Laura Alice Leir, Madison Isla Guildner.

And she is survived by many nieces and nephews, and too many friends to count.

Ann's memorial service will take place at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 115 Cedar Lane Road, Greenville, SC 29601 at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2020, officiated by Pastor Mark Minnick. Burial immediately following at Coleman Memorial Cemetery, 1599 Geer Highway, Travelers Rest, SC 29690.

Visitation will be from 9:30 until 11:00 on the morning of the funeral.

The family are being served by Cremation Society of South Carolina Westville Funerals.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to The Evangelical Institute of Biblical Training, 700 N. Parker Road, Greenville SC 29609 // eibibleschool.org