Sunday, September 27, 2020

Bill Crawford: We Need More Good Souls Like Doodle Pate

NOTE: If you know of good souls like Doodle Pate, please email their stories to me at crawfolk@gmail.com

“If a gas line ruptured. Get Doodle. If the power went out. Get Doodle. If a family needed shelter. Get Doodle.”


Federal Judge Mike Mills used the late Virgil “Doodle” Pate of Fulton to emphatically illustrate how some good souls live their faith in good works. Mr. Pate, a lifelong Baptist, was a founder of the volunteer fire department, later Fire Chief for 10 years, and Mike’s indefatigable “assistant” Boy Scout master. He also served as president of the Mississippi Fire Chiefs' Association and helped start the state fire academy.

We Mississippians may not intellectually grasp the esoteric theologies of the soul, but we know good souls when we see them.

“Doodle never missed a community gathering whether PTA, political rally, cake sale or revival,” continued Mike. “Yet he never pushed himself to the forefront. He was a man of remarkable authenticity. Truly humble. He spent his life quietly urging everyone around him to be as good as they could be. He had a gift of making everyone else feel special, regardless of color or class in our little community. He could not conceive of being mean, rude or selfish. He truly lived to serve others.”

“I saw Doodle last year in Fulton at a City Park fundraiser,” said Mike. “He was 94. I asked how he was doing. He looked at me, as though we were back in 1970, and said, I just cannot believe how good I have had it.”

Virgil Pate passed away in December 2019 at age 95. His son, Gary, told Mike that he is now seeing how fortunate he was to be Doodle's son. He said many people came up to him at the funeral to tell him about the positive impact his father had on their lives.

Asked how Doodle became a good soul, Gary said his father had a “resilience and persistence of character” that never varied, so his character took root early in life. “I think the influence of Dad’s parents in his formative years and his deep desire to know and follow the teachings and examples of Jesus Christ in his everyday life explains why he was the man he was.”

Gary told a story about his grandmother who during the depression years would fill bags of groceries and make flour sack clothes to give to the less fortunate, black and white. He told another about Doodle who, when he was rejected by the Army in WWII for a heart murmur, moved into a boarding house with his father in Jackson County to help build battleships at Ingalls Shipyard. It was a Bible reading family committed to “helping out,” he said.

Mississippi has been blessed with many good souls like Doodle Pate, the nurturers, the givers, and the difference makers in our schools, churches, and communities. We need to learn to grow more.

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” – Matthew 16:26.

Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice article. Seems Doodle was a good man. Thanks for sharing him.

Anonymous said...

Outstanding. I am privileged to have known (and know) others like him...

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing this uplifting article.

Anonymous said...

A real life George Bailey.

Anonymous said...

Didn’t know him, wish I would have.

Anonymous said...

How do I begin ? Good people made this nation what it is. I read the part where he was not fortunate to fight in WWII. My dad left the cotton field at 16, jumped on a train and went to Great Lakes, IL. Transferred to Ulithi and Mog Mog and was placed on a “tin can” which was a destroyer and ate bologna sandwiches after serving 12 to 20 hours at battle station fighting Jap suicide planes at Okinawa them onto
Leyte Gulf. After WWII he volunteered for the Army. I’m proud of my upbringing. I fee that a lot
Of Those who couldn’t serve Would make a contribution such as the case of doodle. Many served and remained quiet and did just as much as doodle...if not more...much much more. Some such as my dad shaped men and
Changed them in ways that are spoken of today. Only a child from a member of the greatest generation can attest to the hardships those men went through seeing death and destruction on a daily basis and wondering what was wrong. My dad carried his Trauma very well, but we could see it many days surface. We are placed here for a reason. I guess Doodle was also, and so were the ones who went and fought and those who died.

JimAtTheRez said...

Growing up in Fulton, I can assure you Doodle was every bit as good as described. His family and the area was blessed to have him for so long. He was indeed a great man. Fortunately, I grew up with many such men and women. I am thankful to have known him.



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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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