Jerry Pate Obituary, Death – Jerry Pate, age 81, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away in a calm and serene manner on April 17, 2023, surrounded by family and friends. Harriman, Tennessee was the location of Jerry’s birth on September 2, 1941. His parents were Audrey Ewing Pate and Hugh Preston Pate. In 1959, Jerry earned his diploma from Austin East High School, and he continued his study at what was then known as Hampton Institute and is now known as Hampton University.
Jerry made the decision to move back to his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, and enrolled in one of the first integrated classes at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Jerry received his bachelor of science degree in physics and mathematics from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in the year 1965. In subsequent years, he attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and earned a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Soon after completing his education, Jerry secured a position with the Atomic Energy Commission at Oak Ridge Laboratories.
Jerry started his lifelong career as a teacher at Austin East High School, which was also his high school of graduation. After some time, he moved to Chattanooga, where he took a teaching position at City High School as well as the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences. In addition to that, he was a coach at the Chattanooga School for Arts and Sciences, where he oversaw both the basketball and tennis programs. Jerry spent the first 25 years of his life serving the Hamilton County Schools and the community of Chattanooga.
During that time, he taught many kids and encouraged them to pursue their goals and ambitions in life. He was a fan of basketball and a tennis player who played frequently. When he moved to Chattanooga, he immediately became a member of the Chattanooga Racqueteers. After he retired in 2011, he continued to spend a significant amount of time teaching at CSAS and CGLA, as well as competing in tennis matches. Jerry’s parents, Hugh and Audrey Pate, as well as his wife, LaVerne Pate, and his sister, Peggy Moore, all passed away before him. He is survived by his daughters, Lei Ann Pate of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Miriam Smith of Atlanta, Georgia; his grandsons, Chris Pate (Tori) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Grayson Smith of Atlanta, Georgia; his niece and nephew, Anthony Moore and Jackie Perry, all of New Jersey; his great grandchildren, Lexi, Jordan, and Londyn Pate of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and a host of other family members and friends.