A Memorial service will be held at Canterbury United Methodist Church on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at 3:00 p.m.
A descendant of the ancient Scottish Clan of Hanna, was born August 31, 1915, in Baltimore, Maryland. She is predeceased by her parents Charles Fredrick Hanna and Mary Catherine Weller Hanna, one sister Mary Catherine Hanna Burns (Rankin). She is also predeceased by her husband of twenty two years, Edward Joseph Pate, whom she met in Baltimore in 1935, and subsequently married in 1936. She and Joe moved to Birmingham in 1937, where he first worked with his father’s company, The Pate Company, and later founded Pate Supply Company. She is also predeceased by her second husband of twenty years, Joseph Kirby Smith, Jr. of Birmingham.
Survivors include her son Edward Joseph Pate, Jr., her daughter and son-in-law, Margaret Pate Barnhart (Peggy) and James Paul Barnhart (Buck), her son and daughter-in-law, Alex Wilburn Pate (Bill) and Margaret Wilson Pate (Peggy), her grandchildren, Catherine Barnhart Pewitt (Ted) of Birmingham, Margaret Eva Barnhart of Atlanta, John Bullock Barnhart (Rachael) of Birmingham, Lauryl Hanna Pate of Franklin, Tennessee, Cynthia Pate Rowland (Tom) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Gayle Kimberley Pate of Nashville, Tennessee, step-grandchildren Mimi Childs Dunn (Paul), and Beth Childs Otto (Shane) of Birmingham.
Also, survivors include the children, grand-children and great-grandchildren of Mary Pate Shelburne (Kingman) and those of Col. Earnest Wilburn Pate (Madelyn).
Eva’s much loved great-grandchildren are Eva Louise Pewitt, Margaret Hanna Pewitt, Price Hightower Pewitt, Eva Catherine Barnhart, Jane Evelyn Barnhart, Thomas Turner Rowland III, Hayden King Rowland, Hanna Pate Rowland, step-great grandchildren Emily McLean Dunn, Anne Hunter Dunn, Olivia Wilson Dunn, Spencer Anthony Otto and Virginia Elizabeth Otto. She is also survived by her devoted sister-in-law Ruth Tillery Pate (Mrs. Alexander Chisholm Pate), and brother-in-law Col. Earnest Wilburn Pate (Madelyn Tillery Pate).
Eva and Joe Pate were early members of Mountain Brook Methodist Church in Crestline Village, now Canterbury United Methodist Church. She has remained an active member of the church where she has been volunteering her time knitting and has been the most productive of the group knitting prayer shawls for those in need of warmth and comfort during and after an illness.
As an avid gardener, Eva enjoyed her own gardens and participating for many years in the Shades Valley Garden Club, and her love for dancing kept her a long time member of the Encores-Comida Dance Club. She was also a member of the Downtown Club, The Club, and the Birmingham Country Club.
Always beautifully dressed in many of her own creations, she is remembered for her radiant smile, her infectious laugh, her wonderful sense of humor, her beautiful spirit and ever-positive attitude. Eva’s love of her family and friends will be remembered and cherished. She always brought cheer and laughter to all and was constantly doing for others which made her days complete. Her family is grateful for her tireless care for them and for the unconditional love she gave them during her long, wonderful life.
Great appreciation goes to Alacare Hospice and their staff, during an illness in 2012, including Susan Nance, Stephanie Walker, Deanna , Holly Morgan, Bobbie who gave their untiring support and love. Also, much appreciation for their attention and loving care goes to Icyphine Sanders and the entire staff of Choice Home Care of Mountain Brook.
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