On Friday, August 14th, a wonderful man began a battle with a terrible disease has left a path of pain, sorrow, and loss in its wake.

Patrick Mayfield, 59, is a man who means so much to so very many.

I know this, because I’m one of them.

Although we are not related by blood, he has been—for decades—a father to me. And, even more than that, he has been a friend.

He was a tough man, a solid man, and one upon whom everyone around him could always lean. His toughness was rivaled only by his compassion and generosity. He would give without hesitation or expectation, and accept without judgment or criticism. He was man who fought for those around him first, and considered himself only later. He was a blunt man, who spoke his mind - but also a man who listened to those who needed a father or a friend to talk to.

It is for those who love and depend on him that he has fought the ultimate battle over the last few weeks. A battle with COVID-19 - which ravaged his body and took him from his own bed at home and into the care of the wonderful staff at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham. From there the battle continued into the ICU, onto a ventilator, through various procedures, and finally ended with him on the most advanced life-support available. The amazing doctors and nurses gave all they had to offer a man upon whom so many depended every chance possible to recover.

He has had to fight this in isolation from his loved family, denied even the simplest of touches, or a hug, or a kiss - with only the staff caring for him by his side. But even then—although he was the one trapped in a negative-pressure room with no sunlight and no personal contact—he used text messages and FaceTime calls to comfort the rest of us for as long as he was able to do so.

Sadly, it has now become clear that COVID-19 has won another battle, and robbed the world of yet another amazing, irreplaceable soul.

Over the last few hours, those who love him have had to make the painful decision to free him from the pain and the struggle. To give a man who spent his whole life earning Heaven the final gift he deserves in order to take his place there.

Today, his life-support will be disconnected, and he will be free from the wounds of the fight he so bravely endured over the last few weeks.

And all that will be left are the wonderful memories of a great man, and the reflections of the life and lessons he passed on in the lives of his beloved wife, children, grandchildren, and so many others like myself. He was a husband, a father, a “Nandaddy,” and the Friend of All Friends to those who knew him.

It is for his wife, Anita, his children, and his grandchildren that this page has been launched, in response to overwhelming requests from friends who want to contribute in some way to honor Pat’s life as he steps into Eternity.

Because he was so solid, so tough, that he seemed almost invincible, his death comes without any financial preparation. The family is facing the cost of putting him to rest and celebrating his memory with no life insurance, burial insurance, or other emergency support. His wife of 40 years is left with a home, a mortgage, and responsibilities that—as many good husbands do—Pat always handled for the both of them.

The money raised by this campaign will go directly to his wife, Anita, and will be used to alleviate the financial burden that comes with a loss for which there is no monetary equivalent. The funds will be used to provide immediate and future assistance for them during this very difficult time, including funeral expenses, household expenses, groceries, and more - so that they she not have to focus on these things, but can instead be with her family.

After being unable to hold, touch, or comfort her husband of 40-years as this disease took him from her, she needs—more than anything—the opportunity to say goodbye and lay him to rest without any additional stresses.

We cannot take away the sorrow, but we can give her that.

Any help you can give, any support you can show, will not be wasted.

If you knew Pat, then you know this to be true—for he gave to many, and all of us who were blessed by his love, generosity, and support will never forget it. Not one act was wasted.

And the legacy he leaves will testify to that, above all.

Please keep Anita, his children, and all of “Nandaddy’s” grand-babies in your thoughts and prayers. This has been, for all of them, the most difficult and shattering loss they have endured.

The pain is immeasurable.

But, together, we can make the support they have just the same.

Any help you can give will see to that.

Thank you, in advance, for any contribution, and for every prayer.