Juanita (Stallings) Pate

Ethel Juanita Pate, 84, of Columbus, GA died Thursday, March 9, 2023 at her residence in Covenant Woods Retirement Community. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM Friday, March 17, 2023 in the Chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory, 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907, with the Reverends Andy Johnston and Jonathan Merritt officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. A private interment will be held at Parkhill Cemetery.

Juanita was born September 2, 1938 in Columbus, GA daughter of the late Homer L. and Ethel Partain Stallings. She was a member of the 1956 graduating class of Jordan High School, where she proudly served as Majorette in the Bob Barr Band. Music was an important influence in Juanita’s life, as she began playing piano for church congregations at the age of 14. She continued to serve in various churches through the years by playing piano and organ, and participating in church choirs. Juanita especially enjoyed sharing her love for music with her children and grandchildren. Other hobbies included sewing, needlework, reading, genealogy, travel and spending time with family and friends.

Juanita married her high school sweetheart, Donald Pate, on September 16, 1956, whom she was married to for 51 years. She worked as an administrative assistant for numerous legal and financial institutions in Columbus, as well as two members of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia. Juanita retired from Raytheon Systems after many years of service. In her latter years, she enjoyed collaborating with her husband in his home building business where she assisted in interior design work of his both new home and renovation projects.

Other than her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Donald Franklin Pate; brothers-in-law, Arthur Knight, Gene Pate, John Quick and Paul Wood; one sister-in-law, Barbara Knight.

Survivors include her daughters, Amy Pate Johnston (Doug) of Hamilton, GA, Allison Pate Leonard (Jon) of Lake Park, GA, Donna Pate Dillon (Scott) of Germantown, TN; grandchildren, Allan Johnston (LeighAnn) of Cataula, GA, Andy Johnston (Katie) of Columbus, GA, Mary Leonard Swinton (Jake) of Columbus, GA, Jon Leonard III of Los Angeles, CA, Sarah Dillon of Los Angeles, CA, Pate Leonard of Lake Park, GA, Laura Dillon of Germantown, TN, David Dillon of Germantown, TN; grandchildren, Grady and Luke Hamilton, Harper Johnston, Keagan and Khloe Bussey, Avery Johnston, Luke and Sam Swinton; sisters-in-law, Janice Pate, Sandra Quick, and Vicki Wood. She also leaves behind her beloved dog, Charlie.

The family would like to express their deepest appreciation for her special caregivers, who took such wonderful care of Juanita in her final years.

Flowers will be accepted; those so desiring may make contributions to Columbus Hospice House, 7020 Moon Rd. Columbus, GA 31909.