With grit and grace, with tenacity and a tender heart (AND at the age of ninety-two), Gradylene Pate has journeyed through life with energy and enthusiasm, and as Reverend Ellen Willett of the First United Methodist Church in Huntsville attests, “She has left everyone else sitting in the dust on many occasions!” Let’s meet this determined and energetic lady.

Please share some information about your early years.

I was born in Dallas, was an only child, and loved music at an early age. In fact, one of my earliest memories was of standing on the kitchen table, entertaining all who would listen, with my best rendition of “The Good Ship Lollipop.” I was all dressed up and emulating one of my idols, entertainment sensation Shirley Temple, who was a couple of years older than me. I told my mother that I looked just like Shirley Temple, but a doubtful glance from her informed me she didn’t believe a word of it! I guess the only truth of it was that I loved to sing! I started piano lessons at age six, prior to our family moving to Houston a couple of years later with my father’s job change.

Your love of music was apparent at an early age. Did you accomplish some educational goals in this field?

I graduated from Southwestern with a degree in math, and as you know, math and music have a lot in common. My husband Robert also graduated from Southwestern, then went on to Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. My plan was to teach high school while he got his degree, but upon meeting the superintendent, my plans changed. He informed me that I “looked younger than the high school students,” and if I would take twelve hours at SMU over the summer, he would hire me to teach elementary school in the fall, which I did. I later went on to teach high school math for several years as well. I looked a little older by then and could also stand my ground with that age group. I loved teaching, loved my students, and was thrilled to see them understand and excel in math.

It is told that you can still hit the high “C” when you sing. That is quite impressive!

Well, there might be some exaggeration in that statement, but I can still come close to it. I started singing in the adult choir at my church in Houston when I was twelve years old. I love singing the old hymns, such as “Abide With Me” and “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.” In addition to singing in the church choir, our school choir would sing with other performing groups such as the Houston Symphony. After my husband graduated from seminary, he served at thirteen different appointments. One of these was in Winnie, Texas; while there and again, after moving to Woodville upon my husband’s retirement, I had the opportunity to sing with the Beaumont Interfaith Choral Society. This is a large group representing more than forty area churches and synagogues which performs major classical and contemporary works of the great masters. In addition to singing, I have also provided piano accompaniment in the various churches we have served in, as well as directed the choir when needed. Our first appointment happened to be here in Huntsville for two years at the Wesley Foundation.

We are certainly blessed to have you back in Huntsville. In what activities have you been involved since returning?

I have been a member of the First United Methodist Church since 1998 and have enjoyed singing with the Chancel Choir. Occasionally, I will pick up donuts on Sunday morning to treat the college students at church, since they usually haven’t had breakfast. And, in the past, I have participated in a number of mission trips with the church. I enjoy reading. School teachers like to read! My late husband and I had two sons. Robert lives in Huntsville, and he and I enjoy lunch together every Sunday, either dining at home on his wonderful cooking or at a local restaurant. Our other son Larry lives in Buna. I also have four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

What advice do you have for a young person, or for that matter, a person of any age?

Work hard! That’s the way you learn to do anything well. And it brings great joy to you as well. Stay active. I’m grateful I’ve had good health that has allowed me to participate in so many wonderful experiences.

We will now hear a few thoughts about you from a friendly admirer, Reverend Ellen Willett. Reverend Willett, please share some thoughts and fun facts about Mrs. Pate.

I have known her for many years and would love to. She is generous to a fault and never asks for help nor complains about anything. She is always generous with her time and talents and kind to sing whenever asked, whether it be for a funeral or other special event. We always loved having her on mission trips, and as already stated, her energy level and work ethic would leave many of us sitting in the dust! She not only outworked us, but would do the tougher tasks we shunned, such as climbing a tall ladder to the roof of a building. She would paint, clean, and do any task that needed to be accomplished. And she did all this while being the oldest person on site! We took a mission trip to Nashville, and as we gathered together in the morning to leave on the bus, here came Gradylene, walking across the parking lot pulling her roller bag behind her. She had not wanted to leave her car parked in the church lot while gone, nor did she want to trouble anyone to come and pick her up from her home several blocks away. While on this trip, we slept on cots in the church gym. Gradylene was always up early, her bed made to perfection, pillow fluffed, and she, ready for action. If a piano were available, she would practice for an hour or so, something she has always enjoyed doing. She is generally quiet, but will let you know in a firm way how she feels about something. In other words, she tells it like it is, in a nice way of course. And although you would never know this from her petite figure, she loves sweets! I would always do the cooking on mission trips, and she invariably asked, “What’s for dessert?” Gradylene is a pure joy to be with. Our church is blessed to have her!