Vera Patricia Mitchell Grant (Pat) was born in Brooks County, Georgia (Quitman), and grew up in a humble and loving family. She was raised by her grandparents until she was the age of tenacious ten, and stayed close to them and other relatives until she was 21. Her grandparents were her foundation, who gave her peace and love to grow into the woman she is today. Her grandfather (Ed Raines) taught her how to read, write, and learn from the Holy Word. She learned to read the bible by a lamp and followed her cousin to a one-room school until she was old enough for regular school.