EDITOR’S NOTE: In honor of Brandon Leroy Patterson, Sr.’s continuous success in his chosen profession, Making Headline News deemed it essential to label this feature story our annual New Year Special Report.

A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. (Proverbs 18:16 NKJV)

CEREMONIOUS HOMECOMING

**ALL-STAR TANDEM —** For Brandon L. Patterson, Sr. his immeasurable body of work under the tutelage of his father in this ever-so-competitive death care industry has benefited him mightily throughout the years. So much, in fact, the Shreveport, Louisiana native has returned to his old stomping ground as the face of Shreveport Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center, where he and longtime death care businessman Allen Dave are stakeholders.

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana — Brandon Leroy Patterson, Sr. has returned back home for all the right reasons.

“I grew up around funeral homes,” Patterson, Sr., during a recent interview with Making Headline News, said, describing his ceremonious return to his native home state of Louisiana from Texas. “My father owned a chain of funeral homes throughout Northeast Louisiana (Patterson Funeral Homes), and that is where I received my induction and early training in this business. Starting out digging graves and worked my way up to an apprentice.”

For Patterson, Sr. his immeasurable body of work under the tutelage of his father in this ever-so-competitive death care industry has benefited him mightily throughout the years.

So much, in fact, the Shreveport, Louisiana native has returned to his old stomping ground as the face of Shreveport Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center, where he and longtime death care businessman Allen Dave are stakeholders.

Shreveport Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center officially went into operations on January 1, days after Louisiana State Inspector Jude Daigle approved the opening (December 27).

MORE ON SFH: www.ShreveportFH.com

A venue that falls under the Houston-based Allen Dave Funeral Directors And Cremation Tribute Center’s umbrella, this is the company’s fourth funeral home location to date, with other locations in Houston, Brenham (Texas), Carthage (Texas).

Allen Dave Funeral Directors And Cremation Tribute Centers also own a cemetery, as well as a human and pet crematories.

To his credit, Patterson, Sr. brings a wealth of experience to Shreveport Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center. The fact that he has been afforded the golden opportunity to add to his already remarkably brilliant resume from his native establishment is something by which he doesn’t take lightly.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to serve my hometown in this industry,” Patterson, Sr., a graduate of Shreveport’s Green Oaks High School, said. “This is a real homecoming for me. I’m so grateful that God has afforded this opportunity to minister to families in my city and offer prestige service in their time of grief.”

**SOLID SUPPORTING CAST —** “Of course, my biggest inspiration always comes from my parents,” Patterson, Sr. said. “It was them who instilled the knowledge of this business in me, but it was Mr. and Mrs. Allen Dave who saw something in me that I didn’t even see it myself. Mr. Dave has mentored me down through the years and has helped sharpen the iron that my parents instilled in me. Finally, my greatest support system comes from home, my wife, Shacquline, my children, Brandon, Jr. and Peyton, and my aunt, Marie Hines.

For what it’s worth, Patterson, Sr. has certainly acquired the essential knowledge and credentials, all of which have greatly enabled him to function in his divine element for such a notable time as now.

Upon graduating high school, Patterson, Sr. enrolled at Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service in Houston, where he earned a degree in Applied Science and Funeral Service in December 2005. Months later, he became nationally certified by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Board.

Such an achievement ultimately led to Patterson, Sr. assuming an entry level position in September 2007 as a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the state of Louisiana. Much to his delight, he achieved a similar milestone in the Lone Star State in September 2021.

**AND IT CAME TO PASS —** *Shreveport Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center officially went into operations on January 1, days after Louisiana State Inspector Jude Daigle approved the opening (December 27).*

After putting his immeasurable gifts on display in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, it’s now back to familiar territory in Louisiana, where one of the area’s finest death care industry stakeholders figures to have an even greater impact.

“Of course, my biggest inspiration always comes from my parents,” Patterson, Sr. said. “It was them who instilled the knowledge of this business in me, but it was Mr. and Mrs. Allen Dave who saw something in me that I didn’t even see it myself. Mr. Dave has mentored me down through the years and has helped sharpen the iron that my parents instilled in me. Finally, my greatest support system comes from home, my wife, Shacquline, my children, Brandon, Jr. and Peyton, and my aunt, Marie Hines.”

As Patterson, Sr. recalls, the defining moment surrounding his career transpired some 16-plus years ago — November 26, 2005, to put it more precisely.

“I’ve always had the desire and the drive to be the best at whatever I do, but what just made me go all gas and no brakes was when my father passed,” said Patterson, Sr., referring to his father’s passing two days after Thanksgiving in 2005. “In this business, you’re always helping and caring for others, but when it’s your turn in the hot seat, it hits totally different.

“My dad, Leroy Patterson, was my hero and a pioneer in this business. When I lost him — and then, only 2 ½ years later, my mother, Patricia Patterson, passed — I was only 21 years old then. I had to grow up…like for real…grow up, realizing that I no longer have either of my parents, and the only way to survive and provide for my family was to become overly consumed in my business.”

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**IMMEASURABLE GROWTH —** *Allen Dave Funeral Directors And Cremation Tribute Centers also own a cemetery, as well as a human and pet crematories.*

All things considered, Patterson, Sr. doesn’t shy away from the notion that he’s steadfastly exceeded his own lofty expectations, something of which he senses have made his parents proud.

“I’ve always said if I could succeed in my business, then everything else would fall in line,” Patterson, Sr. said. “As like anything else, life will throw you some curveballs, but it’s up to you in how you deal with them. I chose to take some time and get closer to God and work on myself.”

As it turned out, it is due in large part because of Patterson, Sr.’s faith, coupled with his fervent desire to excel his chosen profession, that he has been afforded the golden opportunity to add to his already remarkably brilliant resume from his native establishment, something by which he doesn’t merely take lightly.

MORE ON SFH: www.ShreveportFH.com

**AND ANOTHER ONE —** A venue that falls under the Houston-based Allen Dave Funeral Directors And Cremation Tribute Center’s umbrella, this is the company’s fourth funeral home location to date, with other locations in Houston, Brenham (Texas), Carthage (Texas).

“I’ve always knew what my career choice would be because it’s my passion,” Patterson, Sr. said. “But sometimes, the notoriety can be a bit much for the younger generations. I feel as if God threw me a curveball in 2012 as a sign that if I kept going on that path, I would self-destruct. But now I heard voice of Jesus say, ‘My son it’s time to come back home.”

And, the rest, as they say, was history.

For more information about Brandon Leroy Patterson, Sr. of Shreveport Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center, call 318.317.6768, or log on to: www.ShreveportFH.com. Also, send email to: blpattersonsr@gmail.com.

For more information about Houston-based entrepreneur Allen Dave of Allen Dave Funeral Directors And Cremation, call (713) 480-2966 or 713-634-2707, or log on to: http://www.allendave.com. Also, join the mailing list by writing to: Allen Dave Funeral Directors And Cremation Tribute Centers at 2103 Cypress Landing Drive, Houston, Texas 77090, or by sending email to: allendaveusa@yahoo.com.

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Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to makingheadlinenews@gmail.com or to memphisgraduate@yahoo.com. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist or Instagram at @makingheadlinenews.