In the early hours of November 12, 2025, Dr. Joe M. Pate's long-standing faith became sight as he left his weary earthly body to be with Jesus.

Visitation will be Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 12:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Columbus, MS.  The funeral service will follow at 2:00 P.M. at the church. Burial will follow at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery. Lowndes Funeral Home is entrusted with all arrangements.

Joe was born on February 20, 1962, in Columbus, MS, to the late John William Pate and Mary Katherine Harcrow Pate. While his family grieves the tremendous loss here on Earth, they rejoice in knowing exactly where he is today. Joe was a dedicated pastor to the very end. He was currently serving two congregations: Pickens Baptist Church in Pickens, MS, and Main Street Baptist Church in Goodman, MS. In addition, he has served in a multitude of pastoring, worship leading, and student ministry roles throughout his 45-year career. Despite a lifetime of medical adversity, his positive outlook and faith shown through as a testimony to everyone he came in contact with. He loved to tell jokes, often beginning his sermons with one, and could come up with a catchy jingle about anything. Those who spent any amount of time with him can most definitely recall a silly moment or two because he loved to laugh and have a good time.

In addition to his parents, Joe is preceded in death by his sister – Linda Inmon; mother-in-law – Edna Boone; father-in-law – Bob Boone; and father-in-law – Donald Jones.

Joe is survived by his wife of 41 years – Cecelia "Ceal" Jones Pate; three daughters – Leah (Luke) Pounders of Clinton, MS, Christina (Cody) Kamper of Enterprise, MS, and Heather (Randy) Burke of Atlanta, GA; seven precious grandchildren – Sabin Neely, Libby Pounders, Leland Neely, Lucas Pounders, Lane Pounders, Charlotte Kamper, and Lovie Pounders; siblings – Barbara Ibarra of Seymour, TN, Patty (Alan) Duffie of Candler, NC, and Curtis Pate of Columbus, MS, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be John Inmon, Ronnie Oswalt, Keith Hayes, Josh Jones, Rusty Scott Walker, and Byron Green. Honorary pallbearers will be Fresenius Lakeland Home, Dr. Mark Klein, and Dr. Eric Dyess.

Memorials may be sent to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at breakthrought1d.org or American Kidney Foundation at kidneyfund.org.