Joe Alvin Pate, 77, of Bluffton, South Carolina, formerly of Tifton, died Tuesday, December 3, 2013, at Hilton Head Regional Medical Center in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 6, 2013, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Dr. Fred Evers will officiate with a eulogy to be given by George Garren. Interment will follow in Mount Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Chula. Britt Ussery, Keith Pate, Leon Pate, Timothy Pate and Kevin Pate will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Friday, December 6, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the service at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Pate was born on August 21, 1936 in Sycamore and was the son of Henry N. Pate and Mary Joe Hancock Pate, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by one brother, Charles Pate; and one sister, Betty Mercer. He was a member of Northside Baptist Church in Tifton, where he was also a long-time employee.
Mr. Pate is survived by five sons and three daughters-in-law, Timothy Pate of Bluffton, South Carolina, John and Marsha Pate of Metter, Andrew Pate of Bluffton, South Carolina, Larry and Gale Pate of Arabi and Jeff and Stephanie Pate of Arabi; one daughter, Melissa Pate of Arabi; one brother and sister-in-law, Tommy and Sandra Pate of Suwannee; one sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and George Day of Chula; one sister-in-law, Betty Pate of Tifton; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.