Charles Pete, Sr.

Charles Pate, Sr. Was born in Winston Salem, NC on March 25, 1936 to the late Samuel Pate, Sr. and the late Christiana Pate. He went to Atkins high school, and shortly after graduating, he attended Winston Salem State where he ran track against the famous comedian/actor Bill Cosby. Shortly after attending Winston Salem State, he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served his country for four years.

After being discharged from the US Air Force, he met and married the Late Melba Pace of Chase city, Virginia in 1962. From this union, they had four children, three boys and one girl.

In 1987, he started working for the Philadelphia sanitation department as a supervisor and was employed with them for approximately 10 years before retiring. Shortly after that, he worked for the Cheltenham mall and Walmart also as a supervisor prior to retiring altogether for health reasons in 2012.

He was a devoted husband and father and love his grandchildren and great grands very much. Charles was always a “jack of all trades” and very creative. His main hobby was painting/drawing, in which he received an award from McGee rehabilitation center and his artwork is presently on display in their facility. He also enjoyed working with his hands and doing carpentry and his newfound hobby making homemade ice cream, fresh donuts and other treats for kids.

Charles had a stroke two years ago back on June 24, 2019 and went to therapy at Magee rehabilitation Center where they did an excellent job with his recovery, but once he was discharged, his health started cheerier rating quickly until he finally succumb to his ailments on June 25, 2021.

He leaves to mourn his wife, who preceded him in death, the Late Melba Pate along with three sons who preceded him in death and one surviving daughter. His son the late Joe Cepheus Mance (wife Angela Mance who preceded him in death) his son the Late Melvin Lewis Mance (wife Sharon Mance), his son the late Charles Pate, Jr., and one daughter Bridgett Bardot Cherry (husband John T. Cherry). He also had three sisters and one brother, the late Helen Brown, the Lates Hilda Nelson and the late Samuel Pate, Jr., who all preceded him in death and one surviving sister, Marie Townsend as well as eight grandchildren (Ashley Pate, Tyquan Pate, Aigner Cherry, Charnae Smith, Tyree Smith, Tasha Jackson, Melvin Mance, Jr. and Michael), six great grand-children, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Charles Pete, Sr., please visit our floral store.