10 May 2026 Couple of the Month: Lakesia Lorraine and Dr. Patrick Wyman Thames
HIS STORY:
First and foremost, I’m the type of person who naturally considers others before myself. That shapes me into someone who is both caring and empathetic to the needs of others. Making sure people are okay is woven into the fabric of my everyday life, from how I show up for my family to the way I approach educating tomorrow’s leaders. I am proud of being a Christian.
native of: Jacksonville
Education and military service: I have a Doctor of Music Education from Liberty University. I also served in the U.S. Army bands.
Work: I am a teacher and have served in education continuously since 1999. I proudly serve as a music teacher at Meadow Park Elementary in the North Little Rock (NLR) School District. I also own and operate my private music teaching studio, Thames Music Studio. Many of my students have gained scholarships and acclaim for their musical talent.
Awards: I am especially proud of being named Teacher of the Year at Meadow Park Elementary inm 2022. I also represented the school in the NLR School District’s annual Teacher of the Year runoff.
Hobbies: I enjoy playing chess, reading books and listening to music.
Community activities: I serve as the music director for the Meadow Park Elementary drumline and as a gospel choir director. These groups frequently perform at various community events, including the NLR Christmas Parade, the Retired Teachers Association and other civic functions.
HER STORY:
I am a SAHM (stay-at-home mom) who is introvert-ish, down-to-earth and a good listener.
native of: Detroit, Mich.
Children: Our children are Constance, Patrick II, Michael, Christopher, Christiana and Mariyah. Their ages range from 18 to 10 years.
Education: I attended Pensacola Christian College and obtained a Bachelor of Science in commercial art in 2001.
Work: For the past 25 years, I’ve sewn and done alterations, taught art, created commissioned artwork and sold my own creations.
Church activities: I’ve been a member of First Pentecostal Church of North Little Rock since 2001. My husband and I have raised our children there for the past 18 years. I’ve been in the choir for most of that time. I’ve been involved in many of the ministries from bus ministry to children’s choir direction to being in the cast of the “I AM,” our Easter production.
Awards: Before I married Patrick, I was a member of the Arkansas League of Artists for several years and managed to win first- and second-place awards for my art in their annual competitions.
Special interests: I enjoy a good DIY project at home, whether it’s assisting a child with a school project, a furniture updo, a costume idea or a recipe. Reading or listening to a good novel is another favorite hobby.
THEIR STORY
We met at her uncle’s birthday party in 2003. After being introduced by a mutual friend, we started talking and getting to know each other while washing the dishes together during the party. We maintained a casual friendship off and on until 2005 and were even in the same gospel ensemble/band started by Lakesia’s older sister. Patrick played saxophone, and Lakesia sang backup. In 2005, we decided we wanted to pursue more than friendship after consistently seeing each other off and on and missing the bond we had initially. Fun fact: Prior to 2003, Patrick was encouraged by a coworker named Naomi to attend her church (where Lakesia [Bell] attended with her family) to meet the Bell sisters for a possible match. Naomi ended up singing in a duet at our wedding!
After a short courtship, we were engaged in April of 2006. We were married on March 10, 2007. The wedding ceremony took place at the church where Patrick grew up, First Pentecostal Church on Highway 161 in NLR. We had a large wedding party, including Lakesia’s six sisters, Patrick’s four siblings and other family members and friends. We went to Eureka Springs (Carroll County) for our honeymoon. We’ve been married for 19 years and hope to leave a legacy of love and faithfulness to God and each other for our children to carry with them.
