Payton "Pate" Smith slept peacefully into the arms of his loving Father on the night of January 24, 2017. Pate was born on May 8, 1951, in Westlake, Louisiana, to the union of the late John and Emily Wilrye Smith. Pate met and married Jean Evelyn Jourdan and to this union two loving and devoted sons were born. Payton joined and was baptized at Good Hope Baptist Church at an early age. He later became a member at Willow Springs Baptist Church, Pasadena Missionary Baptist Church and Southern Mission Baptist Church in Los Angeles Ca. Pate rejoined Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church on January 22, 2017.
Pate leaves to cherish his memory two devoted and loving sons, Sean Austin (Jene') Smith and Justin D'Juan Smith; three grandchildren, Shaune' Marie Smith, Austin Jourdan Smith, and Jourdan D'Sean Smith; three brothers, Earnest (Agnes), Johnny, and Tommy (Gail) Smith; sister, Emma Sudduth; God children, Kelton Smith, Sha'Neal Jourdan, and Shaunice Anderson; sister-in-law, Sue Smith; aunt, Evelyn Wilrye Shelton; numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
Pate was preceded in death by his former wife and the mother of his children, Jean Evelyn Jourdan Smith; his parents, John and Emily Wilrye Smith; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Austin and Alean Jourdan, Sr.; his brothers, Freeman, Willie, Raymond, Leon, and Sonny Smith; sister, Zella Montgomery; his paternal and maternal grandparents; four brothers-in-law, four sisters-in-law; his God parents; and numerous aunts and uncles.