[5/6/04]Patricia Anderson Segrest, a longtime Warren County educator and the longest-serving member of the Vicksburg Bridge Commission, died Wednesday. She was 58.

Ms. Segrest was director of testing for the Vicksburg Warren School District and had worked in public schools here since 1967 as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and in administrative positions.

“She was extremely hardworking,” said Josie Williams, who worked with Ms. Segrest for about 17 years. “She loved people and being around kids.”

Ms. Segrest was responsible for all state testing required by the No Child Left Behind act and handled professional development within the district.

“She wanted everything to go well and test scores to go up,” Williams said.

Superintendent James Price said Ms. Segrest worked with thousands of children during her career.

“This is a tragic loss for the education community in Warren County,” he said.

A native of Kings, Ms. Segrest was the daughter of the late Hazel and Zellner Anderson. She graduated in 1963 from Rosa A. Temple High School and received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1967 from Alcorn State University. She studied at Mississippi College and Mississippi State University before receiving a master’s degree from ASU.

She was inducted into ASU’s Alumni Hall of Honor about 10 years ago and was a fifth-generation member of Triumph M.B. Church.

Ms. Segrest also served on the Vicksburg Bridge Commission for more than 20 years.

Hugh “Winkie” Freeman is a former president of that commission.

“She was always willing to discuss and do what was best for the citizens of Warren County,” he said.

Ms. Segrest was also an adjunct instructor at Alcorn and a part-time employee of Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Phi Delta Kappa-Utica Chapter, Les Souers Charmantes Social and Civic Club and the Young Adults for Positive Action. She was also a member of the Board of Directors for the Hospice Foundation.

Ms. Segrest is survived by a daughter, Pamela Segrest of Cordova, Tenn., and a sister, Zelmarine Murphy of Vicksburg.

Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.