For true Southerners, especially those raised by a strong Southern woman, hearing the phrase “Are you out of your mind?!” swiftly followed by “Have you eaten today?” feels almost as natural as sweet tea on a hot afternoon. Blend that with the passion of a strong Italian woman, and you’ve perfectly defined the spirit of Mrs. Patti Wilborn. An Italian at heart turned Southerner and Alabamian by marriage, Mrs. Patti Wilborn brought both rigor and genuine care to every day at Unclaimed Baggage. Not only serving as a beloved team member, but the sister-in-law of Unclaimed Baggage Matriarch, Mrs. Sue Owens, Patti was an integral part of the Unclaimed Baggage family in more ways than one.

Patti served Unclaimed Baggage for nearly three decades, primarily as the Operations Manager. She was the kind of leader who could make you straighten your posture with a single glance, yet make you feel like you were her favorite person in the world. She believed that if you had untapped potential, you owed it to yourself to let it shine. And if you didn’t see that potential in yourself? Well, Patti saw it for you.

Patti joined the Unclaimed Baggage team in 1984 and retired in 2012. Even in the early days, she earned a reputation for running a tight ship. In fact, hearing “You don’t want to be called to the dock” became a playful saying among team members. “It didn’t take me long to realize her bark was way bigger than her bite, and her heart was the size of Texas,” recalls Unclaimed Baggage VP of Retail, Jennifer Kritner. Patti believed in excellence, but she also believed in people. “If you needed something and she only had 21 dollars in her wallet, you left that day with her 21 dollars,” Diane Wendlick, a team member under Patti, fondly remembers.

Patti fed her work family in more ways than one, most famously with her “Kitchen Sink Salad” and beloved “German Potato Salad,” brought to potlucks in massive bowls that always seemed to run out too soon. Part of Patti’s charm was her straightforward approach to the daily tasks that kept the Unclaimed Baggage operations facility humming. Some team members joke that Patti was “the internet” before the internet itself existed, because when it came to operational details—pricing, sorting, identifying brands—she was the expert everyone consulted. Ask the wrong question or price something in a suspicious way, and you might hear that trademark exclamation: “Are you out of your mind?!” But once the moment passed, she’d flash a big grin your way. “We used to put a crazy price on something in pricing just to wait and see her reaction,” chuckles Diane.

This mix of stern direction and genuine affection quickly earned Patti a maternal role within the company. Caleb Manning, Chief Financial Officer, credits Patti with shaping him as a young professional. Through her leadership, he learned more than just how to operate a successful warehouse, he learned about people, resilience, and the power of an honest day’s work. If you made a mistake, she’d let you know, but then she’d make sure you understood how to fix it. Patti’s firm hand was always grounded in her unwavering belief in you.

And yes, Patti was famously uncompromising when it came to cleanliness. If you dared track mud into her workspace, she’d probably tell you to go grab a broom – and then join you in sweeping. She took pride in every inch of Unclaimed Baggage, viewing it as a place where people not only worked but grew into the best versions of themselves. That sentiment rings true in the anecdotes of how she never let anyone remain idle; if there was a moment’s lull, she’d put a broom or a box of inventory in your hands.

We lost Patti recently, and though we grieve, we also celebrate. We celebrate a woman who devoted 28 years of her life to making Unclaimed Baggage better. We celebrate the lessons she taught: that it’s okay to hold people to high standards, so long as it’s done out of love, and that kindness paired with discipline can help shape a supportive, thriving work family.

So, thank you, Patti. Thank you for believing in us fiercely, for reminding us that no misstep or muddy footprint could overshadow true potential, and for loving us enough to demand our very best. Though you will be missed beyond measure, your spirit, wit, and legacy will remain evident through Unclaimed Baggage. We are forever grateful for the time we shared with you, and we will carry your lessons forward every day.

With love,
Your Unclaimed Baggage Family