Stephen Vernon Pate

Stephen Vernon Pate, also known as Steve “Santa at Heart,” died December 5, 2025, at 79, while an inpatient at Carolina Rehabilitation of Cumberland in Fayetteville - Hope Mills, Cumberland County, North Carolina.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Esther E. and Prior Pate, and his brother, Charles Roland Pate, all of Fayetteville, North Carolina. His youngest brother, David Michael Pate, and David's wife, Dalys, who currently reside in Ashburn, Virginia, survive him. He is also survived by his nieces, Angela R Hast and husband Ray, Maureen A Torres and husband Ruben, and his nephew, Daniel M Pate and wife Paola. And five grand nieces and nephews.

Born September 7, 1946, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to Prior P and Esther E Pate, Steve graduated from Seventy-First High School ('64) and Pembroke University (now the University of North Carolina at Pembroke).

Steve's work included farm work; shucking and serving at Harold’s Bar-B-Que; installing and troubleshooting for Carolina Telephone and Telegraph and CableVision of Fayetteville; programming and sales for Burroughs Computer Company; and sales for Dixie Hi-Fi. He was also a Vietnam-era veteran of the US Air Force.

Steve was a thespian and acted in numerous theater productions and outdoor dramas. He was also very active in his church choirs and production groups. He was known to strike up a tune from his extensive repertoire, with or without accompaniment!

Steve was never married, but as “Santa at Heart,” he devoted himself to thousands of children. His devotees often referred to him as “the real Santa!” In addition to the role of Santa Claus, he also acted as historical Santas including Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Pe’re Noel (Papa Noel), and Father Christmas – also known as Old Father Christmas, Sir Christmas, Lord Christmas, all complete with accents to match the country/region of the character he portrayed. Let’s just say that the children were most correct in calling him, “the real Santa!”

Steve was an avid genealogist for over 65 years, that all started with a high school class project that became an obsession. He could and would tell you about the people in the surname backgrounds that he researched and found. His intent was to expand the surname of PATE and that of our mother’s family STEPHENS. His research took him to marked and unmarked graveyards all over North and South Carolina, to the libraries of The Church of Ladder Day Saints, and of course the public libraries. He particularly spent a lot of time Raeford Public Library in Hoke County, so much so that all the librarians knew him by name and always seemed to have a computer ready for him to use in his research.

A memorial & short funeral service is planned to be held in the activities center at Carolina Rehab on January 7, 2026, at 2 pm. Associate Pastor Terry Garner from Harvest Baptist in Hope Mills will lead our “Celebration of Life” memorial. All Carolina Rehab patients, staff, nurses, doctors, and visitors are invited to attend. A graveside “Farewell” and interment of the ashes will be held later that day at 3:30 pm at Camp Ground United Methodist Church in Fayetteville.

Many thanks to Carolina Rehab of Cumberland for providing aid and comfort to Steve over the years that he stayed with you. Though Steve could be really ornery and stubborn, he still loved you all and appreciated you.

“Sweet dreams and to all a good night! HO! HO! HO!”