Mrs. Rebecca Tate, 79, died on January 8, 2011.
She was a member of Greater Second Baptist Church with former Pastor E. N. Bates and was active before illness.
After being a stay at home mom until her children were in their early teen years, she worked as a faithful employee for Western Union, Tri-County Hospital and McDonald’s Inc.
Mrs. Tate was an organized mother and homemaker and an excellent cook for family and friends. She was always teaching herself to master a variety of activities that interested her.
Her mother died when she was eight years old. Her name was Lovie Smith Dunson of the (mother) – Cowan and (father) Barnett linage; her father was Charles Edward Smith Sr. of Georgia; also preceding her in death her husband and father of their 12 children, James R. Tate; 14-year old daughter, Theresa Lynn Tate; sisters, Sylvine Ware, Eva Hodge, Bobbie Vaught and infant Fairy Lee Smith; brothers, Norman Elder and Curtis Dunson.
Survivors of Mrs. Tate’s are her sons, Dennis Richard (Susie) Tate; “Mr. T” Allan (Shelia) Tate; Lesley Tate, Atlanta, and Zachary Tate; daughters, Gwendolyn Stringer, Carolyn Gabriel, Madison, Tn.; Verna (Charles) Campbell, Raney (Phillip) Branch, Atlanta; Sharon Tate; Regina (Ronnie) Sparks; and Vicki (Henry) Cannon; sisters and brother, Bessie Moore, Barbara Pride and Charles Edward Smith Jr. of Berkley, Ca.; brother-in-law, Johnny Vaught; sisters-in-law, Gwen Emery and Barbara Stegall; 24 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; a host of nephews, nieces, and cousins.
A special thanks to all other relatives, churches, ministers, Cedine, Erlanger, Hospice, special friends and organizations.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m. at Grace Baptist Tabernacle, 2551 Tunnel Blvd., with Pastor Dr. John Geeter and other ministers officiating.
The body will lie in state at the church one hour prior to services. Interment will be in Forest Hills.
The body will lie in state after noon on Sunday, Jan. 16, at John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Avenue, 622-9995.