Leslie Shockley
Leslie Tatum Shockley, 84, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, died on October 22, 2016, in a local hospital.
She was the daughter of the late Reverend Jessie Clinton Tatum and Rosie Lee Patterson Tatum. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Bowie State University and later obtained her master’s degree with graduate courses at Loyola University, Morgan State, Townsend State, and Coppin State Universities.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jessie and Rosie Tatum; husband, Elwood Shockley; son, Anthony Roy Bates; brothers, Aaron Tatum, Clarence Tatum, and Ocie Tatum; and sister, Clintella Harris.
She is survived by a son, Rodney (Crystal) Bates of Durham, NC; step-daughter, Cynthia Shepherd of Baltimore, MD; brother, James (Carolyn) Tatum, Sr. of Chattanooga; sister-in-law, Betty Jean Tatum of Orlando, FL; grandchildren, Anthony Bates, Zubaidah Bates, Bishara Bates, Celeste Larson, Megan Fenstod, Auri’al Bates, Kahlil Bates, Eloheim Bates, Wayne Bates, and Jeffrey Shepherd, a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Special thanks to the caregivers and staff of Creekside Retirement Center, Terri Howe and staff.
She will lie in state on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 9 a.m. at Taylor Funeral Home with the funeral to follow at 12 noon in the chapel with Pastor A.J. Bullard III, officiating, and Bashara Bates and James Tatum II as the eulogists. Burial will be in the Chattanooga National Cemetery.