James Scott Pates

• Residence: 1920 - Chancellor, Spotsylvania, Virginia, United States
• Residence: 1930 - Chancellor, Spotsylvania, Virginia, United States
  • Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Apr 11 2017, 14:58:50 UTC

James Scott Pates, 89, of Fredericksburg died peacefully on Monday, July 10, 2006, at Mary Washington Hospital, after a brief illness. A native of Spotsylvania County, he was a prominent business and community leader in the Fredericksburg area for more than 50 years. The son of Ernest Oren Pates and Nettie Perry Pates, he was born Feb. 23, 1917, and grew up with his parents and older brother, Carl S. Pates, on the family farm on Plank Road in Chancellor. He graduated from Chancellor High School and left the area during the Depression to seek work in Washington, D.C. He soon worked his way up to a job as office manager of Washington Tobacco Co., a tobacco wholesaler, and saved enough money to attend college and earn a degree from Strayer Business College. During World War II, he contributed to the war effort by returning to Spotsylvania to run the family's dairy farm. After the war, he served briefly as assistant Spotsylvania County extension agent before joining the Farmers & Merchants State Bank in 1947 as a commercial and farm loan officer. He soon obtained his real estate broker's license and, in 1954, opened up his own real estate office in partnership with local businessman C. Rosser Massey. The new business was called Pates-Massey Insurance & Realty and had its offices in the Law Building on Princess Anne Street. From there, the business grew and eventually moved to a new location at 301 William St., where it became a popular gathering spot for local businessmen and various colorful characters. He later bought out his partner, and the business became known thereafter as Pates Insurance & Realty. He distinguished himself over the next 30 years as a prominent local businessman, real estate broker, investor, developer and appraiser. He served as president of the Fredericksburg Real Estate Board, now the Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors, and was named Realtor of the Year by the board in 1971. He served three terms on the city's board of assessors and one term on the city's board of equalization. He also was active in the political and civic affairs of the city. Although he had no fondness for partisan politics, he often expressed the belief that as a successful businessman, he owed a "debt" to his community that could be repaid, to some degree, through public service. Therefore, in 1960, he allowed his name to be submitted as a candidate for City Council, to which he was elected that year and where he served one term before retiring in 1964. During his one term, he chaired the Public Interest Committee and the Water Committee and was particularly proud of his role in preserving the historic Cole House on Sophia Street, now home of the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts. He also served on the City Planning Commission, the Biracial Committee, the Fredericksburg Industrial Development Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Rappahannock Area Development Commission. He possessed a special talent for land investment and, over the years, bought and sold scores of properties in the city and surrounding counties. Perhaps his favorite real estate venture was a 1,000-acre tract known as "Klondike Mountain" that included several farms and mineral rights near Sistersville, W.Va., a property that he bought "sight unseen" from an old friend. He later sold the tract to the state of West Virginia to be preserved as a state wildlife management area. Mr. Pates also continued his ties to the banking industry by serving for 27 years as a director of Farmers & Merchants State Bank, and later as an advisory board member of First Virginia Bank. He contributed countless hours and resources to many charitable organizations and his church. He served as president and campaign chairman of the Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania Cancer Crusade and the Fredericksburg Community Fund, 1956, now known as the United Way. He was also active as a volunteer and director of the Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair and the Fredericksburg Host Lions. While he always had a keen mind and talent for real estate investment, he never allowed money or business matters to diminish his commitment to his family, community or high ethical standards. To him, honesty and his reputation in the community were the guiding principles by which he wanted to be remembered. He believed that land was a priceless commodity that should be fully utilized and not allowed to deteriorate or sit idle. He was proud of the fact that he had successfully approached his friend, Mrs. Butler Franklin, about selling her property along the Rappahannock River to the city for what is now Old Mill Park. He hated to see historic properties lost. In 1967, he purchased his alma mater, the old Chancellor School, and donated it to the Chancellor Community Club for use as a local community center. His love of the land was also expressed through his leisure activities as an avid outdoorsman. He spent countless hours hunting and fishing with his friends and family and served as an enthusiastic sponsor and volunteer for Ducks Unlimited He was predeceased by his devoted and loving wife of 56 years, Gennilla Atkins Pates, who passed away Nov. 11, 2003. Survivors include his daughter, Jacqueline P. Henninger and her husband, William B. Henninger, and their two children, Matthew W. Henninger and Dana A. Henninger, all of Midland, Mich.; his son, James M. Pates and his wife, Susan B. Pates, and their daughter, Anne Morgan Pates, all of Fredericksburg; and his dear friend, Ann Gallahan. Visitation will be held at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, Fredericksburg Chapel, on Thursday, July 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. The burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 14, in Salem Baptist Church cemetery on Plank Road in Spotsylvania County. The funeral will follow at 3 p.m. at Fredericksburg Baptist Church, with the Rev. Larry Haun officiating. Pallbearers will be Carl S. Pates III, Richard D. Pates Jr., Matthew W. Henninger, Enos Richardson Jr., William B. Young, and William P. Sale. Honorary pallbearers will include Beryl R. Nolan, Hon. J.M.H. Willis Jr., William M. Sokol, Hugh C. Cosner and Carl D. Silver.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: May 4 2021, 10:41:10 UTC