Former Picayune city prosecutor and Picayune School Board of Trustees attorney Gerald Patch was known for his tenacity.

Patch passed away on Feb. 29.

Patch practiced law with professionalism and treated his opponents in the courtroom with civility and respect, said local attorney Richard Fitzpatrick.

The two men met while practicing law, and became friends who fished and hunted together.

“Whatever he did, he did 110 percent,” said Fitzpatrick. “His hobbies, when he took up a hobby of fishing or hunting or grilling or shooting, he was 110 percent on whatever he did. He was very intense, and he did that with his clients too; his cases.”

Patch was dedicated to his work as city prosecutor, said Fitzpatrick. Patch was an attorney with Patch and Bryan and also spent some time working in the industrial commercial laundry business.

Picayune Police Department Assistant Chief Dustin Moeller was also good friends with Patch and worked with him in the municipal court system.

“Gerald was a good man and Gerald was very good at what he did,” said Moeller.

Patch was a passionate Mississippi State Bulldogs fan, said Fitzpatrick.

“You didn’t have to know Gerald for very long to know that he was a Mississippi State fan. He liked his Mississippi State and he liked his coffee,” said Moeller.

Picayune Police Chief Bryan Dawsey counted Patch as a dear friend and enjoyed working with him.

“Mr. Patch dedicated many years of service to the city of Picayune and will be missed tremendously by everyone at the Picayune Police Department. Please join us in praying for his family in the coming months,” said Dawsey, in an emailed statement.