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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cIf you want something, you\u2019ve got to work for it,\u201d she said firmly. \u201cNobody in my family sat around waiting to be taken care of.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The principle of accountability and strong work ethics have guided her throughout her life, from her early days working in various offices to her eventual venture into public service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Throughout her life, Patton often found herself as the only person of color in her circles, a situation that could have felt isolating. However, she embraced it with pride and used it as motivation to push herself toward excellence \u2014 for both her own growth and her family\u2019s future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patton\u2019s entrance into public service came unexpectedly when she was asked to join the Manchester Arts Commission. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat was probably the first board or commission I was on,\u201d she recalled. \u201cI was working at an attorney\u2019s office, and they asked me to be on that board. I served for about five years.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2008, then-county Mayor David Pennington encouraged Patton to run for alderman. She was elected and served multiple terms, even being appointed to fill a vacant seat in 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI loved it,\u201d she said. \u201cI didn\u2019t have an agenda. I just wanted to do what was right for the community.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Patton\u2019s time as an alderman came with several key accomplishments, including the purchase of a new fire truck to support a growing city and the acquisition of land for much-needed soccer fields. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat field is packed now,\u201d she said proudly. \u201cIt\u2019s very good for our community.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout her years as an alderman and assistant to the county mayor, Patton remained persistent and committed to the community\u2019s most vulnerable populations \u2014 its older adults and children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have to take care of our seniors and our children,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of her proudest moments as an alderman was securing city funding for the Manchester Senior Citizens Center. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe county was contributing, but the city wasn\u2019t. We got that passed, and it was a big accomplishment for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, it\u2019s not Patton\u2019s professional achievements that define her. She\u2019s a nurturer with a servant\u2019s heart who cares immensely about the well-being of others. She selflessly advocates for older adults by working with the Coffee County Senior Citizens organization and supports the next generation through various boards and commissions. Patton\u2019s life is centered around creating meaningful community impact and ensuring prosperity for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She serves on several boards, including the State Vocational Rehabilitation Board and the Southern Middle Tennessee Local Workforce Development Board. These boards allow her to continue helping others, whether by supporting small businesses or aiding individuals in returning to the workforce after an injury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s a good feeling to be able to help people,\u201d she said simply. \u201cI can talk to anybody. I\u2019m always the same, and I try my best to treat everybody the same.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n As Patton reflected on her journey, it was clear that her family and life experiences have shaped the woman she is today. Her contagious authenticity and no-nonsense leadership style have earned her the respect and admiration of her peers and the community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou vote your conscience,\u201d she advised. \u201cAnd as long as you\u2019re able to sleep at night, you\u2019ve probably done the right thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leadership has never been about titles or recognition for Patton \u2014 it\u2019s about genuine service to the community and honoring the diligent work of those who came before her. As she steps into the future, a new set of eyes watches her closely \u2014 not just from council chambers or board meetings, but from her own family. As she looks into her grandchildren\u2019s eyes, she sees the next generation of potential leaders, who look to her as a living example of love, strength, tenacity, and selflessness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As they observe her actions and blaze their own paths, they carry with them the values of integrity and service that have defined their family\u2019s legacy. For Patton, the cycle of leadership doesn\u2019t end with her \u2014 it\u2019s just beginning again in the hearts and minds of those who will continue to build upon the foundation she laid. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As Roxanne Springfield Patton strolled through the streets of Manchester, she felt the warmth of familiarity and a connection to the town that influenced her. To those looking from the outside in, it was just another afternoon in this small, harmonious community. But in Patton\u2019s eyes, it was a walk through history \u2014 a history […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":23351,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/manchester\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/12\/1-1-1024x683.png\")
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