Mr. George Reed Pate, age 82, of Raynham passed away Wednesday, February 25, 2015 after an extended illness. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 3:00PM at Rowland United Methodist Church, Rowland, NC. Burial will be private. Visitation will be Saturday, February 28, 2015 from 1:00PM until 3:00PM prior to the service at the Church Fellowship Hall. Born April 7, 1932 in Raynham, NC in Robeson County, he was the son of George Lewis Pate and Ruth Reed Pate. He was born and raised on Raynham Farms where he was the Owner/Operator at the time of his death. He was also past Manager of Rowland Supply Company in Rowland, NC. He is survived by his five children: Margaret Susan Jones Sheats (Richard, Sr.) of Red Springs; Elizabeth "Lisa" Marie Pate Holmes of Lumberton; Ruth Anne Pate Johnson (Randy) of Rowland; George Scott Pate (Sylvia) of Rowland; Mary Lewis Pate Smith (Kevin) of Rowland; 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; sister, Sara Marie Pate Chambers of Winston Salem; former wife Elizabeth Jacqueline Clark Pate of Orlando, FL; 17 cousins in the Pate Family and 7 cousins in the Reed Family; and a special friend, Janice Bracey. He was preceded in death by his parents, George Lewis Pate and Ruth Reed Pate; paternal grandparents, Dr. George M. Pate and Marie Elizabeth Hamer Pate; maternal grandparents, Dr. Doctrine Hugh Reed and Sarah Jeannette White Reed; wife, Scotty Pate; and grandson, George Matthew Pate. George Reed attended Rowland Public Schools and graduated from the Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Virginia in 1950. He was a 1954 graduate of North Carolina State University and served in the US Army from 1954-56 at Fort Jackson, Fort Sam Houston and Ladd Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska. He succeeded his father as Robeson County Commissioner for the Rowland Dsitrict in 1965 and served until 1976. He served as Past President of the NC Cattlemen's Association in Raleigh and Cooperative Tobacco Warehouse in Lumberton; Past Commander of Rowland American Legion Post in Rowland; Past Member of Rowland Lions Club; Past Trustee, Sunday School Teacher and Choir Member of Rowland United Methodist Church in Rowland and was a Honorary Lifetime President of Asbury Memorial Methodist Church where he provided the upkeep of the church property for many years. He was also the author of a book, Town of A Thousand Friends, about the history of the Town of Rowland. So impressed with this work, the town adopted this title as its official motto. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to either: Rowland United Methodist Church, PO Box 66, Rowland, NC 28383; Asbury Memorial Church, 6523 Hwy 301 South, Rowland, NC 28383; or Southeastern Hospice, 202 Cedar St, Lumberton, NC 28358. Arrangements being handled by Floyd Funeral Services in Fairmont, NC