Birth Date: 09/26/1936
Deceased Date: 07/03/2018
George Wesley Pate, age 81, passed away at SECU Hospice House Tuesday, July 3rd, 2018. Born on September 26, 1936, he was the son of William Leon Pate, Sr. and Mary Louise Willoughby, both of Johnston County. He was a graduate of Selma High School and served in the Army National Guard. Wesley was the pastor of Glad Tidings Assembly in Smithfield for many years, and the church building now serves as the men’s dormitory for the Smithfield Rescue Mission. He owned and operated City Seafood and Pate’s Variety Store in Smithfield for many years until he began working with Johnston County Schools as a teacher assistant in the Life Skills Program in 1977, until his retirement in 1998.
Wesley is predeceased by his parents, brothers Sanford Ray and William Leon Pate, Jr. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Sandra Perry Pate, three sons; Timothy Wesley Pate of China Grove, Derrick Brian Pate and wife Charity of Smithfield, and Benjamin Patrick Pate and wife Janette of Wilmington; and five grandchildren, Jordan and Makenna Pate of China Grove, Madalyn and Jason Pate of Smithfield, and Ryan Pate of Wilmington; and one sister, Mary Pate Braswell of Selma, and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at Parrish Funeral Home in Selma on Friday from 6 to 7 PM followed by funeral services at 7:00 PM. Burial with military honors will be held on Saturday at 10:00 AM in Sunset Memorial Park in Smithfield.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Smithfield Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 681, Smithfield, NC 27577 or to SECU Hospice House, make check payable to Johnston Health Foundation, P.O. Box 1376, Smithfield, NC 27577.
