Mr. Donald “Donnie” Ray Slate, age 76, of Mt. Airy, passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at Northern Regional Hospital in Mt. Airy. He was born on June 24, 1949 in Surry County to the late Abraham Lincoln Slate and the late Mary Magdalene Holt Slate. Left to cherish his memory are his children, David Slate, Michael Slate (Jessica Chilton); longtime daughters-in-law, Amy Cooke Slate and Misty Sexton; grandchildren, Jacob Slate (Chelsea), Kobe Slate (Anna), Kayson Slate, and Kylan Slate; great-grandchildren, Annie-Pearl Slate, Walker Slate; sister, Barbara Chandler; brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy Slate (Barbara). In addition to his parents Mr. Slate was preceded in death by his wife, Audene Gwyn Slate; sisters, Betty Lovill and Brenda Slate; brothers, Roger, Johnny, and Kenneth Slate. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mt. Airy with service conducted by Rev. Gary Sawyers. Burial will follow in the Booker Busick Smith Family Cemetery, Pipers Gap Road, Mount Airy, NC. The family will receive friends on Wednesday afternoon from 12:30 PM until the time for the service at the funeral home.