Pate A. Purvis, Sr.

1933 - 2021

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Obituary of Pate A. Purvis, Sr.

Pate was a loving husband of 37 years to Verna Legette Purvis and devoted Pop-Pop to Vincent Starkey-Purvis, whom they so lovingly raised. Father of Cynthia Purvis and Karen Caulk-Smith. Pate leaves cherished memories with a host of relatives and friends.

Pate Allen Purvis, Sr. departed this life on Tuesday February 9, 2021 at Riddle Memorial Hospital in Media, Pennsylvania. Born on March 26, 1933 in Williamston, North Carolina to the late George and Delia Purvis. He grew up in Williamston and received his education there. He served in the Korean War while in the US army. He later moved to Pennsylvania where he continued to further his career of 50 plus years as a professional truck driver! He also started P & L Landscaping and Snow Removal and was known as one of Chester's Best Black Entrepreneurs and was acknowledged throughout the Tri-State area.

Pate always had a story to tell to anyone who would listen. He met and married the former Verna Legette and he enjoyed his relationship with his late father-in-law Pastor Roosevelt Legette, Sr. They spent many hours up and down the highways in his big rig.

Pate joined New Bethel Church under the leadership of Bishop Legette and remained a member and trustee until his death.

Pate's hobbies included cooking for his lovely wife Verna and Vincent. He and "lovely wife" as he so lovingly called her, would have family cookouts and people would come from far and near - which he enjoyed immensely. Family reunions in North Carolina were always exciting events attended annually. He had a great love for all cars and trucks and mainly the "Big Rigs". He had a lot of style and could certainly dress to the nines, especially for church. Pate had a heart to help any and everyone he could which is why he will be dearly missed by so many.

He was pre-deceased by his parents the late George and Delia Purvis, his children Denise Purvis-Brown, Pate Purvis, Jr., Ronald Purvis, and Elaine Purvis-Pitts, siblings Novella Purvis, Annie Bryant, and Robert Lloyd.

Survived by his lovely wife Verna Legette-Purvis, devoted son/grandson Vincent Starkey-Purvis, whom they raised, daughters Cynthia Purvis (Wayne) and Karen Caulk-Smith (Elbert), grandfather of 12 and great-grandfather of 16.

Also survived by his siblings Ned Purvis, Dr. Clarence Lloyd, and Margaret Peele, brothers and sisters-in-law Rosemary Cleveland, Shirley Owens (Herb), Hazel Legette, Keever Crawford (Angela), Roosevelt Legette, Jr. (Lisa), and Gary Rogers, Jr.; god-children Leah Thorpe, Brittany Thorpe, and Mar Frances Spence.