Patricia Birmingham

Patricia “Rici” Dees Birmingham was born December 11, 1972, in Orlando, Florida, and carried through life a bright, spirited presence that those who loved her remember fondly. Known to friends and family as “Rici,” she was admired for her energy, strong work ethic, and the fierce affection she showed the people closest to her.

Rici grew up as the daughter of Mildred “Dianne” Dees-Estes and Archie Dees and is survived by her sister, Mary Dees, and other family who treasured her warmth. Those who knew her recall a woman who spoke her mind, laughed readily, and lived with a boldness that made her both unforgettable and deeply loved.

A devoted mother, Rici’s family was central to her life. She cared for those around her with tenderness and determination, and her home was a place shaped by her personality—full of life and honesty. Friends describe her as a true spitfire: outspoken, loving, and endlessly loyal.

On December 6, 2021, Rici’s life was cut short. While the circumstances of her death received public attention, the memory most worth holding is of the person she was in life: a daughter and sister who brought laughter and warmth to gatherings, a mother who loved fiercely, and a friend who stood up for those she cared about.

Those who loved Patricia remember her for the ways she made ordinary moments brighter and for the steadiness of her devotion to family. Her passing left a hole in the lives of those who knew her, and her spirit endures in the memories and stories shared by those who loved her most. May her family find comfort in those memories and in the knowledge that she was seen, cherished, and remembered.