Melinda Covington Pate

Melinda Covington Pate, 70, of Valdosta, died on Friday, January 24, 2025, following a short illness. Born in Camilla to the late R. D. & Edwina Roles Covington, she grew up there and graduated from Ravenwood High School in Meigs in 1971. While in high school, she played basketball and developed her competitive nature early on. Also while in high school, she met Leon Pate and they eventually started dating and were married on Sept. 3, 1971, in Camilla. Soon Melinda started a job in the Insurance Department of P&C Bank for several years, before also working as the church secretary at First Baptist Church of Camilla. In 1985, the Pates moved to Valdosta because Leon had been named the principal of Lowndes High School. While in Valdosta, Melinda returned to the insurance industry and worked at Blanton Insurance Agency, just prior to their joining with the Griffin insurance agency to create Blanton & Griffin Insurance. She worked there 8 years until the Pates again moved, this time to Douglas for a couple of years. Then they moved to Bainbridge for several years until returning in Valdosta in 2002. After returning to Valdosta, she made many trips back to Camilla as a devoted caregiver to her parents.

Melinda loved attending sporting events, her father had been an athlete during his younger days and both of her sons loved playing sports. She also frequently attended the sporting events of the school that Leon led, and the family also attended many Florida State University sporting events. Other activities she enjoyed included playing Bunco with friends and she was a prior member of the Valdosta Woman’s Club. Melinda had many devoted friends that she stayed in touch with in the communities of Camilla, Douglas, Bainbridge and Valdosta. The Pates are members of First Baptist Church in Valdosta and were charter members of the Outlaw Sunday School Class. Her true heart was her family, going on family beach trips, making chocolate chip pancakes with grandchildren, dancing and listening to music. 

Survivors include her husband of 53 years, Leon Pate, of Valdosta; two sons and daughters in law, Travis & Alyssa Pate of Valdosta and Stuart & Lauren Pate of Tifton; four grandchildren, Anna Pate and Mason Pate, both of Valdosta, Eli Pate and Cooper Pate, both of Tifton. She is also survived by her brother and sister in law, Randy & Shelda Covington of Camilla. 

A funeral for Mrs. Pate will be held at 4 pm on Monday, January 27, 2025, in the Chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home. Rev. Chuck Owens, Rev. Mac Weaver and Rev. Dennis Massie will officiate. Burial will follow at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home prior to the service from 2:30 until service time. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com Carson McLane Funeral Home