Patty Baxter Newsom, 67, of Knoxville, Tenn., passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 2, 2022, following complications from multiple back surgeries leading to sepsis and pneumonia.

She was born on Dec. 31, 1954, in Cedartown, Ga.  Patty was a nurse for over 40 years and loved making memories with her family.

Patty is preceded in death by her father, Charles Baxter; her mother, Anne Baxter Carter; her brother, Randy Baxter; her father-in-law, Samuel James (Bud) Newsom; her husband's nephew, Thomas William McBride (Tommy); her grandparents and many aunts and uncles.

She was survived by her loving husband of 41 years, Joe. Joe and Patty were the epitome of "till death do us part" as Joe died just 16 days after Patty, also of sepsis and pneumonia. They were a close-knit couple who shared a life full of love and are now together in eternal love.

Patty is survived by their identical twin sons, Ron Michael and Thomas Charles Newsom, both of Knoxville, Tenn.; her sister, Kim Baxter Campbell (Johnny) of Clifton, Texas; her mother-in-law, Mary Lena Rutledge Newsom of Columbus, Miss.; her sister-in-law, Betty Ann Newsom Keil (George) of Louisville, Tenn.; her brother-in-law, Thomas James Newsom (Debbie) of Sevierville, Tenn.; her nieces, Kristin Casiano and Kristine Key, of Waco, Texas.; her nephew, Ryder Dougherty, of Waco, Texas; her cousins, Robyn Hubbord, Scotty Tillery, Rocky Tillery, Ronnie Tillery, Becky Rutledge, and Diane Cheatwood, all of Cedartown, Ga., and her husband's nieces and nephews, Terri Lynn Jablonski (Andy) of Louisville, Tenn., James Robert (Rob) Cash III (Maria) of Knoxville, Tenn., Michael Thomas Newsom (Rebekah) of Wake Forest, N.C., and Christy Lynne Newsom of Memphis, Tenn. In addition, she is survived by the children of her husband's nieces and nephews: Natalie Morgan Jablonski Gugliotta (Joey) and Nolynn Rachel Jablonski, of Louisville, Tenn., and James Robert Cash IV, Marianao and Nico Cuccarese of Knoxville, Tenn.

Joe and Patty fell in love in Birmingham, Ala., and were later married in Birmingham in 1980. They were soulmates and stayed devoted to each other until the end. When they looked at each other anyone could see the love they had for each other. They were a stellar example of true love for their family and surrounded their sons with their love.  While it hurts their family and friends that Patty and Joe are gone, they take comfort in knowing that Patty and Joe are together again forever. Their sons carry their parents' spirits with them, as their legacy lives on through them on this earth.

Patty was the salutatorian and an honor graduate from Bryan County High School in Pembroke, Ga., class of 1973.  She was on the state debate team in high school and won first place several times.  Patty received her bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 1979. She worked as a nurse in Birmingham, Ala.; Waco, Texas; Fairfax, Va.; Charlotte, N.C.; and Knoxville, Tenn.  One of the highlights of her 40-year nursing career was starting the outpatient surgery unit at Ascension Providence Hospital in Waco, Texas, in the 1980's.

Patty's first priority was her family.  She was a devoted and loving wife and mother to her husband and their twin sons.  Their sons say she is without a doubt, the greatest woman they have ever, or will ever know.  She was known for being brilliant, caring, honest and brave.  She was beautiful in every way a person could be and loved her family unconditionally.  Her family was her entire world. Patty is missed by all who knew and loved her.

The family wishes to express their sincerest gratitude and appreciation to family and friends who have given their support during this difficult time.  An informal, come as you are, gathering of friends and family graveside burial and celebration to honor both Joe and Patty's lives will be held at the Wanilla Baptist Church cemetery in Sontag, Miss., on Saturday July 16, 2022, at 11:30 a.m.  Wilson Funeral Home in Monticello, Miss., is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be offered at wilsonfuneralhomemonticello.com .  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Ron and Tom Newsom for their parents' headstone fund, to Remote Area Medical or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.