Gwendolyn "Gwen" Diane Pate

Gwendolyn “Gwen” Diane Copeland Pate, 74, a beloved member of the Tift County community, passed away peacefully on October 30, 2025, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Born on November 7, 1950, in Tift County, Georgia, Gwen lived a life dedicated to public service and family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, November 3, 2025 in the chapel of Albritton Funeral Directors with Rev. Aaron Frasier officiating along with Judge Bill Reinhardt delivering the eulogy. Interment will follow at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday, November 2, 2025 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Alex Sumner, Grant Sims, Cody Winslett, Wilt Jones, Chip Pate, Tanner Watson and Jerry White will serve as pallbearers. The present and past employees of Tift County Clerk of Court Staff will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Gwen enjoyed a long and fulfilling career, retiring as Clerk of Superior Court for Tift County after an impressive twenty-four years in that role and a remarkable total of forty-seven years in the office. She began her journey at the Superior Court Office at the tender age of eighteen, where she found great joy in her work and looked forward to her days at the courthouse.

A proud graduate of Tift County High School in 1969, she furthered her education at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC), laying a foundation for her lifelong passion for learning and service.

Gwen was known for her love of traveling and camping, often exploring new places alongside her husband. Her adventures included cherished moments spent fishing, tending to her beloved flowers, and traveling in their RV to the serene shores of Port St. Joe. She found immense joy in the company of her pets, which included her devoted dogs, Max, Trooper, Roxie, and Blossom, alongside her affectionate cats, Callie and Sir Lancelot.

Gwen was also a devoted member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Chula, reflecting her deep-rooted values and commitment to her faith, community, and family. She is survived by her husband, Leon Pate of forty-two years and her children, Clent and Andrea Hand and Clay and Christa Pate; her grandchildren, Nicole Lamb, Brian Jordan, Camry Jordan, Omie Pate, and Lettie Pate; as well as her great-grandchildren, Auroa Lamb, Damian "Bubba" Lamb, Eli Jones, and Nora Davis.

Gwen is preceded in death by her father, James Copeland, and her mother, Odessa Jernigan Copeland.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 293 Mt. Zion Church Road, Chula, Ga. 31733.

Gwen Pate leaves behind a legacy of dedication, love, and cherished memories that will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Albritton Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.