Gospel preacher listed in Preachers of Today, Vol. 1, 1952, 262. He spoke on the 10th Annual Bible Lectureship at Freed-Hardeman College in January 1946. The following is a tribute in the Gospel Advocate: Stoy Pate, a faithful gospel preacher for 55 years, passed from this life Dec. 13, 1984, at the age of 74. He was born in Dyersburg, Tenn., May 20, 1910, to John York Pate and Janie Agee Pate. He was baptized into Christ by Alonzo Williams in 1925. Even as a child his desire was to preach the gospel. In later life he often said he never had any desire to do anything else. He attended school at Freed-Hardeman College, Memphis State, and Harding College, graduating in 1934. He preached at various congregations on the weekends while he was attending school. He served congregations in Crossville, Tenn.; Shawnee, Okla.; and Memphis, Tenn. He preached for the McLemore Avenue congregation, later known as Airways, in Memphis for some 36 years. He retired in 1977 but continued to fill-in at various congregations in the area until his death. He was a strong defender of the truth and was noted for his clear, concise presentation of God's word. This he did without compromise or apology, but with the utmost concern for the lost. He believed in filling his sermons with the scriptures and was disturbed by preachers who failed to do so. He was also concerned for what he called "weak preaching" and the influx of denominational literature into the church. One could memorize many verses simply by listening to his sermons due to the way he would emphasize and repeat them. Not only was he a strong defender of the truth, but he also strongly supported those who took a stand for the truth. He was a great encourager and felt a special concern for the younger preachers. He was particularly interested in the Memphis School of Preaching and would always try to give them a word of encouragement. For many years Stay Pate served as the greeter at the door for the Mid-South Training for Service Series in Memphis. He looked forward to this event each year and could be seen at the door wearing a flower in his lapel, giving everyone an enthusiastic greeting and handshake while calling their name. He was enthusiastic about whatever he was doing. In a newspaper article written about him in the early 50's he was described as a rapidly speaking minister who is enthusiastic about his work and the church he serves. His enthusiasm was contagious. He was also an extremely optimistic person who thought Christians should walk with their head held high and look forward to the future. His optimism was of great benefit to the congregations he served. He would often rebuke those who worry about things or have a defeatest attitude. He was also a man who thought about others and tried to help when possible. He served on the Board of the Mid-South Christian Nursing Home and contributed of his time and resources to many other good works throughout the Brotherhood. He had a unique way of getting people involved in the work. Instead of just asking for volunteers in a nonspecific approach he would ask for volunteers and then say "how about you brother --and you brother." Before you knew it you had a work to perform. But Stay Pate's greatest concern was for the lost. The impact of his work cannot be measured. He touched an untold number of lives in this area. It is impossible to estimate the number of people he converted, but by 1950 he had converted over 4000. His sermons were powerful and always expressed God's plan of salvation. Many of those baptized by him now serve as elders, deacons, preachers, and teachers throughout the brotherhood. He was honored by the Phillips Street Congregation in Dyersburg in 1980 for 50 years of preaching God's glorious gospel. He was extremely proud of the plaque presented to him on that occasion. He also received the outstanding alumnus award from Freed-Hardeman and served two terms as President of the Freed- Hardeman Alumni Association. He was married to the former Edith Sawyer in 1937. N.B. Hardeman conducted the wedding at the Hardeman home in Henderson, Tenn. The funeral service was conducted by Garland Elkins and Emmerson J. Estes. Many gospel preachers including L. O. Sanderson were in attendance. The pall- bearers were all gospel preachers. Much of the funeral service was preached from brother Pate's Bible using scriptures he had marked and things he had written in it as he studied God's word. Garland Elkins used Jeremiah 5:1 as a text which reads, "Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem and see this and know, and seek the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man." In his Bible was written this quote from Shakespeare: "His life was gentle; and the elements so mixed in him, that nature might stand up and say to all the world, this was a man." 2 Samuel 3:38 states "and the King said unto his servants, know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel." A great man has indeed fallen. His voice is now stilled but his good works continue. (Revelation 14:13.) --- Howard Hurst, Gospel Advocate, Jan. 17, 1985, 37, 40.