John Wayne Tate, Sr.

John Wayne Tate, Sr., known as Wayne, 87 of Eden, passed away Monday, March 23, 2026, at UNC Rockingham Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm Friday, March 27, 2026, at Trinity Wesleyan Church, 186 E. Aiken Rd, Eden. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Dan View Cemetery in Eden. The family will receive friends at other times at his home.

Wayne was born September 18, 1938, in Rockingham County, North Carolina, to John B. Tate and Elizabeth Jones Tate. Wayne was a graduate of Ruffin High School and also attended Rockingham Community College. Wayne served his country in the Army National Guard for five years. He made his career at Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc., spending most of those years as supervisor of the Fieldcrest Store. John retired in 1997.

Wayne became a Christian later in life, but immediately began working for the Lord in missionary work and other duties within the church. He became a trustee and a deacon and was an active member of Trinity Wesleyan Church.

Wayne had a love for NASCAR and sports. Throughout his years, he coached many teams and was an active member of the community. Wayne earned Coach of the year for baseball in 1975 and Coach of the Year for basketball in 1976. He was also a past member of the YMCA Board of Directors. While he enjoyed coaching students in Eden, he mostly loved watching and cheering as his grandkids played.

He loved his family dearly, especially being “Papa” to his grandkids.

Surviving are his loving wife of 65 years, Betty Vernon Tate of the home; children, John Wayne Tate, Jr. (Jill) of Reidsville and Gina Tate Byrd (Todd) of Eden; four grandchildren, Bryce Byrd of Eden, Blake Byrd (Natasha) of Bolivia, Holly Tate of Eden, and Dylan Tate of Reidsville, and one great-grandchild due in June. Wayne is also survived by his sister, Glenda Gunn (Starling) of Reidsville; stepsister, Bessie Sparks of Reidsville; brother-in-law, James Ellington of Reidsville; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Wayne is preceded in death by his father, John B. Tate; mother, Elizabeth Tate White; sister, Betty Carol Ellington; stepfather, Herman White; stepbrothers, George Tate, John D. “Monk” Tate, Dewey Tate, Robert Tate, and Cecil Tate; and stepsisters, Debra Boulding, Lorene Lawrence, and Elaine Smith.

The family would like to thank the staff at UNC Rockingham Health and Rehab, West Hall, as well as their church family at Trinity Wesleyan Church, for all of the support and loving care that they have received.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in his name to Trinity Wesleyan Church, 186 E. Aiken Rd, Eden, NC 27288, or Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607, or Gideon Eden Camp, PO Box 383, Eden, NC 27289.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com.