Ruth Tatum
Ruth B. Tatum, 89, of Chattanooga, departed this life for her heavenly home on Thursday, December 3, 2020, in a local health care facility.
She was born on Aug. 8, 1931, in Anniston, Al., to John Wesley Bryant and Lula McLaughlin. She was united in marriage to Curtis Homer Tatum in 1956. To this union seven children were born. Mother Tatum was a devoted Christian woman and a faithful member of Mount Paran Baptist Church. She was on the Mother’s Board, the President of the Choir and a Sunday School teacher. She was a retired employee of National Linen Service/Uniform Rental Service for over 35 years and also retired from the Chattanooga Foster Grandparent program.
Mother Tatum was preceded in death by her loving husband, Curtis Homer Tatum and son, Curtis Joseph Tatum; father, John Wesley Bryant and mother, Lula McLaughlin Bryant; sisters, Susie Mae Lucas and Martha Louise White, and a brother, Alton Bryant.
She leaves to cherish her memories: two sons, William (Mary) Bryant of Oakland, CA and Dr. Donald (Dorothy) Tatum of Chattanooga, TN; four daughters, Dr. Geraline (Bishop Dr. Wesley) Davis of Ringgold, GA, Joan (Rev. Wayne) Kirkling of Sacramento, CA, Christine Tatum and Joyce Allgood of Chattanooga; two brothers, Rev. Willie (Demaris) Bryant and Marvin Bryant of Oakland, CA and three sisters, Elnora Gay of Oakland, CA, Lorain Abernathy of Muscle Shoals, AL and Rosetta Tipton of Chattanooga; twelve grandchildren: Angelita McGhee, Yolanda McClure, Byron Bryant, Isaac Davis and Cecilia Davis, Quanita Kirkling and Tamika Kirkling, Tajuana Tatum and Tronya Hollins, LaMichael Tatum, Tredell Tatum and Kevin Allgood; twenty-one great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.
Mother Tatum will lie in state on Monday, Dec. 14, at 9 a.m. at Taylor Funeral Home.
A family service will follow at 1 p.m. in the chapel.
Burial will be in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.