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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Elwyn Joseph Pate
Elwyn Joseph
Pate
Mar 19, 1935 — Mar 17, 2016
Elwyn Joseph Pate's Obituary
" Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord
you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24
Beloved Elwyn Joseph Pate , affectionately known as " Junior " , was born on March 19, 1935 to the late Hazel Lucille Johnson Pate and the late Elvin Elbert Pate in East Baton Rouge Parish. He was the only child of that union. He inherited from his parents a rich legacy of love, faith, family, pride, humor, and a courageous spirit. Junior's life ended in a tragic and sudden accident on Thursday, March 17,2016, just two days shy of his 81st birthday.
Junior attended the Southern University Laboratory School from grade school through high school, and participated in numerous activities where he earned awards, honors, and citations. Elwyn was elected president his senior year of high school and served as the Valedictorian of the class of 1953. He also wrote and arranged the class song for the graduation ceremony. He then enrolled at Southern University where he earned his Bachelor's of Science Degree in Music Education. Later he did further studies which resulted in a Master's Degree in Guidance Counseling plus 30 credit hours towards his doctorate at Louisiana State University.
Junior Pate began his musical training with the late Sylvia Howard and later studied piano with the pedagogue Tourgee Debose and organ with Mrs. Allene Rayford. At Southern University, he gave several piano recitals and was the first place winner twice in he B-Sharp Music Contests in New Orleans, Louisiana. He did further study in music at LSU where he performed in student recitals. Elwyn excelled in piano as a student, teacher an performer.
Elwyn accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized into the fellowship of Mount Zion First Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. Gardner C. Taylor. He gave freely of his time and talent at Mount Zion as the church's pianist-organist under the pastorate of Rev. T. J. Jemision for over 30 years. Musically, he participated regularly in many church activities such as Sunday School, Month Club, Vacation Bible School, and the E. S. Cotton Missionary Society. He also served in the same capacity at numerous churches through out the city. His philosophy was "Give to the world the best that you have and the best will come back to you and to God be the Glory for the things He has done." Later in life, Elwyn joined Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Fred Jeff Smith, pastor.
While working on his Masters Degree, Elwyn Joseph met Barbara Jean George in the library at Southern University. After a very short courtship they were married in a small wedding ceremony on August 14, 1961. To their union, they were blessed with three daughters; Germaine Rochelle, Karla Lynn and Bennifer Davita who were his pride and joy.
Elwyn taught vocal music at Elementary, Junior and Senior High Schools. Many of his choirs and small vocal ensembles were highly acclaimed and received superior ratings at musical festivals. However, his greatest gratification was being his daughter's first piano teacher. As a result of his dedicated efforts they competed and won numerous Tourgee DeBose Contests. Elwyn retired from the East Baton Rouge Parish School System as a Guidance Counselor, but continued to play piano and organ for churches, weddings, funerals, and special events.
Junior held membership in social clubs in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana including the Young Men of Illinois, Camelot Club, and Original Men of Illinois. He thoroughly enjoyed attending dances and formal balls. He used his music and program expertise to plan his daughter's debutante parties and later his middle daughter's wedding. Junior Pate was fun loving, a jokester, the life of any party and he never met a stranger. He enjoyed his life. Junior is directing the choir, playing the piano and singing his heart out, and forever making things brighter in Heaven where his light is just beginning to shine. To God Be the Glory !
Left to cherish wonderful memories are his three daughters; Germaine (Ronnie) Pate-Thomas of Allen, Texas, Karla (Wesley II) McClure of Chevy Chase, MD, and Bennifer Pate of Raleigh, North Carolina, his supportive former wife; Barbara G. Pate, three (3) grandsons; Wesley McClure III, Benjamin Pate, and Andrew McClure, four (4) granddaughters; Brianna Thomas, Julienne, Gabrielle, and Kiersten McClure, two (2) loving aunts; Lugertie Whittaker of Oakland, California and Udieth Dotson of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, five (5) nephews, a host of cousins, friends, and former students.
Elwyn was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel Johnson Pate Freeman, Elvin Elbert Pate, and only sister, Joy Aileen Freeman Hampton, and a host of other relatives
and friends.
you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24
Beloved Elwyn Joseph Pate , affectionately known as " Junior " , was born on March 19, 1935 to the late Hazel Lucille Johnson Pate and the late Elvin Elbert Pate in East Baton Rouge Parish. He was the only child of that union. He inherited from his parents a rich legacy of love, faith, family, pride, humor, and a courageous spirit. Junior's life ended in a tragic and sudden accident on Thursday, March 17,2016, just two days shy of his 81st birthday.
Junior attended the Southern University Laboratory School from grade school through high school, and participated in numerous activities where he earned awards, honors, and citations. Elwyn was elected president his senior year of high school and served as the Valedictorian of the class of 1953. He also wrote and arranged the class song for the graduation ceremony. He then enrolled at Southern University where he earned his Bachelor's of Science Degree in Music Education. Later he did further studies which resulted in a Master's Degree in Guidance Counseling plus 30 credit hours towards his doctorate at Louisiana State University.
Junior Pate began his musical training with the late Sylvia Howard and later studied piano with the pedagogue Tourgee Debose and organ with Mrs. Allene Rayford. At Southern University, he gave several piano recitals and was the first place winner twice in he B-Sharp Music Contests in New Orleans, Louisiana. He did further study in music at LSU where he performed in student recitals. Elwyn excelled in piano as a student, teacher an performer.
Elwyn accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized into the fellowship of Mount Zion First Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. Gardner C. Taylor. He gave freely of his time and talent at Mount Zion as the church's pianist-organist under the pastorate of Rev. T. J. Jemision for over 30 years. Musically, he participated regularly in many church activities such as Sunday School, Month Club, Vacation Bible School, and the E. S. Cotton Missionary Society. He also served in the same capacity at numerous churches through out the city. His philosophy was "Give to the world the best that you have and the best will come back to you and to God be the Glory for the things He has done." Later in life, Elwyn joined Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Fred Jeff Smith, pastor.
While working on his Masters Degree, Elwyn Joseph met Barbara Jean George in the library at Southern University. After a very short courtship they were married in a small wedding ceremony on August 14, 1961. To their union, they were blessed with three daughters; Germaine Rochelle, Karla Lynn and Bennifer Davita who were his pride and joy.
Elwyn taught vocal music at Elementary, Junior and Senior High Schools. Many of his choirs and small vocal ensembles were highly acclaimed and received superior ratings at musical festivals. However, his greatest gratification was being his daughter's first piano teacher. As a result of his dedicated efforts they competed and won numerous Tourgee DeBose Contests. Elwyn retired from the East Baton Rouge Parish School System as a Guidance Counselor, but continued to play piano and organ for churches, weddings, funerals, and special events.
Junior held membership in social clubs in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana including the Young Men of Illinois, Camelot Club, and Original Men of Illinois. He thoroughly enjoyed attending dances and formal balls. He used his music and program expertise to plan his daughter's debutante parties and later his middle daughter's wedding. Junior Pate was fun loving, a jokester, the life of any party and he never met a stranger. He enjoyed his life. Junior is directing the choir, playing the piano and singing his heart out, and forever making things brighter in Heaven where his light is just beginning to shine. To God Be the Glory !
Left to cherish wonderful memories are his three daughters; Germaine (Ronnie) Pate-Thomas of Allen, Texas, Karla (Wesley II) McClure of Chevy Chase, MD, and Bennifer Pate of Raleigh, North Carolina, his supportive former wife; Barbara G. Pate, three (3) grandsons; Wesley McClure III, Benjamin Pate, and Andrew McClure, four (4) granddaughters; Brianna Thomas, Julienne, Gabrielle, and Kiersten McClure, two (2) loving aunts; Lugertie Whittaker of Oakland, California and Udieth Dotson of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, five (5) nephews, a host of cousins, friends, and former students.
Elwyn was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel Johnson Pate Freeman, Elvin Elbert Pate, and only sister, Joy Aileen Freeman Hampton, and a host of other relatives
and friends.
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