Patrick Eddie Boateng

Reverend Patrick “Yaw” Eddie Boateng was born on June 15, 1950 in Kumasi, Ghana to the late Kwadwo Anin Mensah and Hannah Akua Bonsu. He attended State Boys Metropolitan Authority from 1963-1966 and obtained his middle school certificate, passing with distinction. From a very early age, Patrick was a man of faith and was drawn to the ministry. He would follow that calling into theological studies in Saltpond, Ghana at the Southern Ghana Bible Institute of the Assemblies of Ghana in 1970. While there, he often found his viewpoints conflicted with the missionaries who led the school, and he prayed for a church family that better understood the hardships that he and his family and friends faced. He also began praying that he would raise his children in America, as he witnessed the opportunities provided to the missionaries. In his third and final year of his studies, he decided to travel back to his hometown to pray for the sick against the missionaries’ wishes, ultimately leading to him being expelled. After moving to Accra, Ghana for some time, his prayers were answered in 1975 when he was invited to serve alongside a former missionary in Lubbock, Texas as a Baptist youth minister.

Coming from Ghana with what he referred to as an “eighth grade education,” Patrick championed the importance of education, frequently calling it the “great equalizer.” He studied hard to take and pass his General Education Development test, and then attended Texas Tech University from 1975-1979 and graduated with a degree in Sociology.

While in Lubbock, Texas, he had a son, King Patrick Green, with the late Willie Jean Green. He then moved to Houston in 1979 where he served as a minister at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor William “Bill” Lawson. He met Violet Boateng (Wilkinson) in the Singles’ Ministry at the church, and they married on February 16, 1980. He and Violet started Beech Grove Missionary Baptist Church in their home in 1980 and filled it with the youth from the neighborhood, combining religious service and school tutoring. They moved the church to its final location on Hiram Clarke Rd in 1987, where he served as Senior Pastor until 1999.

Over their 13-year marriage, Patrick and Violet had two children – Dr. Abena Boateng Knight and Patrick Augustus Kwaku Boateng. In addition to the church, Patrick had a long career in the real estate industry, working in many areas of the US and serving in every role associated with mortgage loans. He relocated to Seattle, Washington in 2015 for health reasons where he remained until his passing on October 17, 2018.

He is preceded in death by his parents and 4 siblings. He is survived by his 3 children: King, Abena (Derrick Knight), and Patrick; his 6 grandchildren: Tyler Knight Estrada (Fernando Estrada), Terrain Ray, D’Angelo Green, Natasia Green, Shaniyah Green, Adrianna Green; 3 brothers: John Abankwa, Kwadwo Anin Mensah, Atta Mensah; 3 sisters: Grace Akyeamaa, Grace Mensah, Felicia Bonsu; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, close family and friends.