O B I T U A R Y
J. L. Tate of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away April 30 at the age of 98. He was born April 11, 1913 to the late F. E. and Daisy Lee Walker Tate in Cardwell, Missouri. He attended schools in Festus and Crystal City, Missouri, in Paragould, Arkansas, where he graduated from high school, at Colorado State College, Greely, Colorado, and in New York City, NewYork, where he studied theatrical arts.
J. L. is survived by his devoted wife of 62 years, Mercer Janet Hopson Tate; three sons, Stephen and wife Becky Curtis Tate of Beavercreek, Ohio, Byron and wife Pat Smith Tate of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and Galen Tate of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was blessed to enjoy three grandchildren, Nathan and Mary Kathryn Tate, both of Beijing, China, and Ethan Tate, a second-year student at the University of Chicago.
A patriot from America's Greatest Generation, J. L. was a decorated U.S. Army Air Corps NCO who served in both the European and Pacific Theaters, Puerto Rico, Alaska, and stateside during WWII.
After the war he joined his father in ownership of Tate's Drug Store at 10th and Marshall Streets in Little Rock. He spent the next 35 years as a pharmaceutical salesman, during which time he served terms as president of the Arkansas Drug Travelers Association and was made an Arkansas Traveler. He retired in 1985 at the age of 72.
J. L.'s special interests included a deep appreciation of music, reading, writing, travel, antique autos, politics and photography. He shared each interest with his family and leaves behind a treasure trove of souvenirs and loving memories.
All who knew J. L. knew that the only thing he loved more than his family, his friends and his country was his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Immanuel Baptist Church was his church home for 77 years and 52 of those were spent as a tenor in the choir and as a popular soloist.
Deepest gratitude and appreciation from J. L.'s family are extended to Dr. Jennifer Coe, Dr. George Schroeder, Russ Harrington, to his angels at Baptist Hospice, CareLink, to a special friend and caregiver, Charlene Davis, whose loving kindness and professional care meant so much during the many months of J.L.'s declining health, and to all of J.L.'s friends.
Charitable memorials may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church Choir, 501 N. Shackleford Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211, to Baptist Hospice, 11900 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72210, or to CareLink of Central Arkansas, P.O. Box 5988, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72119.
The family wishes to celebrate J.L.'s life with friends and family during a visitation at 10:00AM, Tuesday, May 3, 2011, with the funeral services following at 11:00AM in the Chapel of Immanuel Baptist Church.
Services will be conducted by Dr. Charles Barfield and Pastor Rick Jaggars both of Immanuel Baptist Church. A private graveside service will be held afterward at Rest Hills Memorial Park.
E U L O G Y
Good morning. I’m Stephen Tate, one of J.L’s three sons, and on behalf of our family, I thank each of you for making time in your lives to be with us this morning to celebrate Daddy’s long and blessed life.
You just don’t know how special and how gratifying it is to be with so many people who were important to our family over many years. I think the last time so many people gathered that were so close to my Daddy was at his 90th birthday party, eight years ago, so I feel so honored and so humbled today.
When our funeral director sat down with Mama and her boys the other day, he said, “Mrs. Tate, what is the one word you would use to describe your husband’s life?” In turn, he asked the boys. The words that sprang up from this conversation were stalwart, consistent, fearless, and faithful.
All these words are very similar in meaning. If you are stalwart you are dependable, resolute. Consistent means unwavering, steady. Fearless means you aren’t deterred by distractions; you press ahead with your purpose, your mission. The word faithful summarizes these the best, because Daddy would bow his head and lay his cares and concerns and sins down at Jesus’ feet. Like the blind and deaf and lame were brought to Jesus’ feet. And when he said, ”Amen,” he had left those burdens behind and was free of them. It was an amazing prayer life and a wonderful example to all who knew him.
I think we were all surprised that one of us didn’t say HUMOROUS, for he was that! Mr. Baker said last night that J.L. Tate could absolutely ruin a choir rehearsal with a single wise crack! Another word that might be used to describe our Daddy might be frugal…or…economical...or…(let’s just be honest) CHEAP! Those of you who knew him understand. Living through the Great Depression when your parents lost everything they had and had to move to another state to find work will do that to you.
But his faith and his prayer life were the things we found most remarkable and most important, and they will be the things we miss the most from Daddy’s passing. He had a prayer list, and many, if not everyone in this chapel today has been on that list from time to time. Many times Daddy told me, “I pray for you three boys, every day.” That explains many blessings that the three of us have received. We will miss that.
But not everything that Daddy stood for is gone.
If you read Daddy’s obituary, or if you knew him well, you know that among his many interests and experiences, some were more pronounced than others. Three main things come to mind here: First as a young man, he had been drafted into WWII and the Army Air Corps and was a military man during that conflict. He told this story about how he got into the Air Force. He was at the induction center with a hundred other draftees. An officer came to the front of the room and asked for a show of hands. He said, “How many of you can read?” (You have to remember that this was 1942 and only about half of the men raised their hand.) The officer then said, “Keep your hand up if you can read and write.” Daddy said half of the hands fell. Then the speaker asked how many can read, write and type. Daddy was the only one with his hand still up. The officer pointed at Daddy and said, “Ok, you go with him,” pointing at another uniformed person. “You are now an NCO.” So, Daddy had been made an NCO, something an enlistee could only expect after several of years of service…all because he could type. And if you think about it, there aren’t a whole lot of typists on the front lines during a war. So, as soon his boys got old enough to get our fingers around a typewriter, he insisted that we learn how! But he was always a patriot and he valued his military service. It had been important to him.
The Flag of the United States of America that is tri-folded inside Daddy’s coffin is testimony to this.
Second, you know that Daddy was an avid reader and writer and photographer, self- educated in each, and was accomplished in each. He read novels and non-fiction books until his eyes went dark eight years ago. In fact, he was reading when blindness settled in on him from macular degeneration. He wrote stories, poems, songs...magnificent letters…and letters to the editor. Show of hands…how many of you remember reading one of his letters to the editor in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette? Virtually everyone, so I don’t need to belabor that point. But he was big into reading, writing and his photographs.
Third, Daddy loved music...all kinds of music. Like I said, he had written a number of songs...lullabies, love songs. He used to sing his sons to sleep with a lullaby called “Little Cloud” that he had written. He had gone to New York City and studied to act and sing on Broadway but was called back by the need to help his father in their Drug Store which was across the street from the Old Immanuel Baptist Church. And he sang in the choir for over 50 years, so music…and especially church music…was very important to him.
So those were the three things…military, literature, and music.
It occurred to me just the other day, (and this kind of surprised all of us, because we hadn’t thought of it before) but, one of J.L. Tate’s sons spent his career in the U.S. Air Force, one of his sons became a journalist, editor, and publisher and one of his sons became a professional church musician! So if you wanted to measure how much we respected and revered our father, you only have to look at how we spent our lives. We never thought of it as following in his footsteps, but we did.
In closing, I want to say that my Daddy was a very, very wise man. I know this because the wisest thing he ever did was to woo and win and keep his wife of almost 63 years, Mercer Janet Hopson. Complementary to each other, they supported one another. They lived exemplary lives as citizens, as parents, and as Christians.
So, again, thank you for being with us today. Thanks for letting me reminisce with you about Daddy. And if you didn’t get to visit with us before the service, don’t get away without seeing us. We thank God for his life, the memories and his legacy.
Sergeant Tate, Daddy, (salute) you will be missed.
Written and Delivered by Col. Stephen M. Tate (ret.), Tuesday 3 May 2011 at Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas.
J. L. Tate of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away April 30 at the age of 98. He was born April 11, 1913 to the late F. E. and Daisy Lee Walker Tate in Cardwell, Missouri. He attended schools in Festus and Crystal City, Missouri, in Paragould, Arkansas, where he graduated from high school, at Colorado State College, Greely, Colorado, and in New York City, NewYork, where he studied theatrical arts.
J. L. is survived by his devoted wife of 62 years, Mercer Janet Hopson Tate; three sons, Stephen and wife Becky Curtis Tate of Beavercreek, Ohio, Byron and wife Pat Smith Tate of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and Galen Tate of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was blessed to enjoy three grandchildren, Nathan and Mary Kathryn Tate, both of Beijing, China, and Ethan Tate, a second-year student at the University of Chicago.
A patriot from America's Greatest Generation, J. L. was a decorated U.S. Army Air Corps NCO who served in both the European and Pacific Theaters, Puerto Rico, Alaska, and stateside during WWII.
After the war he joined his father in ownership of Tate's Drug Store at 10th and Marshall Streets in Little Rock. He spent the next 35 years as a pharmaceutical salesman, during which time he served terms as president of the Arkansas Drug Travelers Association and was made an Arkansas Traveler. He retired in 1985 at the age of 72.
J. L.'s special interests included a deep appreciation of music, reading, writing, travel, antique autos, politics and photography. He shared each interest with his family and leaves behind a treasure trove of souvenirs and loving memories.
All who knew J. L. knew that the only thing he loved more than his family, his friends and his country was his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Immanuel Baptist Church was his church home for 77 years and 52 of those were spent as a tenor in the choir and as a popular soloist.
Deepest gratitude and appreciation from J. L.'s family are extended to Dr. Jennifer Coe, Dr. George Schroeder, Russ Harrington, to his angels at Baptist Hospice, CareLink, to a special friend and caregiver, Charlene Davis, whose loving kindness and professional care meant so much during the many months of J.L.'s declining health, and to all of J.L.'s friends.
Charitable memorials may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church Choir, 501 N. Shackleford Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211, to Baptist Hospice, 11900 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72210, or to CareLink of Central Arkansas, P.O. Box 5988, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72119.
The family wishes to celebrate J.L.'s life with friends and family during a visitation at 10:00AM, Tuesday, May 3, 2011, with the funeral services following at 11:00AM in the Chapel of Immanuel Baptist Church.
Services will be conducted by Dr. Charles Barfield and Pastor Rick Jaggars both of Immanuel Baptist Church. A private graveside service will be held afterward at Rest Hills Memorial Park.
E U L O G Y
Good morning. I’m Stephen Tate, one of J.L’s three sons, and on behalf of our family, I thank each of you for making time in your lives to be with us this morning to celebrate Daddy’s long and blessed life.
You just don’t know how special and how gratifying it is to be with so many people who were important to our family over many years. I think the last time so many people gathered that were so close to my Daddy was at his 90th birthday party, eight years ago, so I feel so honored and so humbled today.
When our funeral director sat down with Mama and her boys the other day, he said, “Mrs. Tate, what is the one word you would use to describe your husband’s life?” In turn, he asked the boys. The words that sprang up from this conversation were stalwart, consistent, fearless, and faithful.
All these words are very similar in meaning. If you are stalwart you are dependable, resolute. Consistent means unwavering, steady. Fearless means you aren’t deterred by distractions; you press ahead with your purpose, your mission. The word faithful summarizes these the best, because Daddy would bow his head and lay his cares and concerns and sins down at Jesus’ feet. Like the blind and deaf and lame were brought to Jesus’ feet. And when he said, ”Amen,” he had left those burdens behind and was free of them. It was an amazing prayer life and a wonderful example to all who knew him.
I think we were all surprised that one of us didn’t say HUMOROUS, for he was that! Mr. Baker said last night that J.L. Tate could absolutely ruin a choir rehearsal with a single wise crack! Another word that might be used to describe our Daddy might be frugal…or…economical...or…(let’s just be honest) CHEAP! Those of you who knew him understand. Living through the Great Depression when your parents lost everything they had and had to move to another state to find work will do that to you.
But his faith and his prayer life were the things we found most remarkable and most important, and they will be the things we miss the most from Daddy’s passing. He had a prayer list, and many, if not everyone in this chapel today has been on that list from time to time. Many times Daddy told me, “I pray for you three boys, every day.” That explains many blessings that the three of us have received. We will miss that.
But not everything that Daddy stood for is gone.
If you read Daddy’s obituary, or if you knew him well, you know that among his many interests and experiences, some were more pronounced than others. Three main things come to mind here: First as a young man, he had been drafted into WWII and the Army Air Corps and was a military man during that conflict. He told this story about how he got into the Air Force. He was at the induction center with a hundred other draftees. An officer came to the front of the room and asked for a show of hands. He said, “How many of you can read?” (You have to remember that this was 1942 and only about half of the men raised their hand.) The officer then said, “Keep your hand up if you can read and write.” Daddy said half of the hands fell. Then the speaker asked how many can read, write and type. Daddy was the only one with his hand still up. The officer pointed at Daddy and said, “Ok, you go with him,” pointing at another uniformed person. “You are now an NCO.” So, Daddy had been made an NCO, something an enlistee could only expect after several of years of service…all because he could type. And if you think about it, there aren’t a whole lot of typists on the front lines during a war. So, as soon his boys got old enough to get our fingers around a typewriter, he insisted that we learn how! But he was always a patriot and he valued his military service. It had been important to him.
The Flag of the United States of America that is tri-folded inside Daddy’s coffin is testimony to this.
Second, you know that Daddy was an avid reader and writer and photographer, self- educated in each, and was accomplished in each. He read novels and non-fiction books until his eyes went dark eight years ago. In fact, he was reading when blindness settled in on him from macular degeneration. He wrote stories, poems, songs...magnificent letters…and letters to the editor. Show of hands…how many of you remember reading one of his letters to the editor in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette? Virtually everyone, so I don’t need to belabor that point. But he was big into reading, writing and his photographs.
Third, Daddy loved music...all kinds of music. Like I said, he had written a number of songs...lullabies, love songs. He used to sing his sons to sleep with a lullaby called “Little Cloud” that he had written. He had gone to New York City and studied to act and sing on Broadway but was called back by the need to help his father in their Drug Store which was across the street from the Old Immanuel Baptist Church. And he sang in the choir for over 50 years, so music…and especially church music…was very important to him.
So those were the three things…military, literature, and music.
It occurred to me just the other day, (and this kind of surprised all of us, because we hadn’t thought of it before) but, one of J.L. Tate’s sons spent his career in the U.S. Air Force, one of his sons became a journalist, editor, and publisher and one of his sons became a professional church musician! So if you wanted to measure how much we respected and revered our father, you only have to look at how we spent our lives. We never thought of it as following in his footsteps, but we did.
In closing, I want to say that my Daddy was a very, very wise man. I know this because the wisest thing he ever did was to woo and win and keep his wife of almost 63 years, Mercer Janet Hopson. Complementary to each other, they supported one another. They lived exemplary lives as citizens, as parents, and as Christians.
So, again, thank you for being with us today. Thanks for letting me reminisce with you about Daddy. And if you didn’t get to visit with us before the service, don’t get away without seeing us. We thank God for his life, the memories and his legacy.
Sergeant Tate, Daddy, (salute) you will be missed.
Written and Delivered by Col. Stephen M. Tate (ret.), Tuesday 3 May 2011 at Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas.
O B I T U A R Y
J. L. Tate of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away April 30 at the age of 98. He was born April 11, 1913 to the late F. E. and Daisy Lee Walker Tate in Cardwell, Missouri. He attended schools in Festus and Crystal City, Missouri, in Paragould, Arkansas, where he graduated from high school, at Colorado State College, Greely, Colorado, and in New York City, NewYork, where he studied theatrical arts.
J. L. is survived by his devoted wife of 62 years, Mercer Janet Hopson Tate; three sons, Stephen and wife Becky Curtis Tate of Beavercreek, Ohio, Byron and wife Pat Smith Tate of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and Galen Tate of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was blessed to enjoy three grandchildren, Nathan and Mary Kathryn Tate, both of Beijing, China, and Ethan Tate, a second-year student at the University of Chicago.
A patriot from America's Greatest Generation, J. L. was a decorated U.S. Army Air Corps NCO who served in both the European and Pacific Theaters, Puerto Rico, Alaska, and stateside during WWII.
After the war he joined his father in ownership of Tate's Drug Store at 10th and Marshall Streets in Little Rock. He spent the next 35 years as a pharmaceutical salesman, during which time he served terms as president of the Arkansas Drug Travelers Association and was made an Arkansas Traveler. He retired in 1985 at the age of 72.
J. L.'s special interests included a deep appreciation of music, reading, writing, travel, antique autos, politics and photography. He shared each interest with his family and leaves behind a treasure trove of souvenirs and loving memories.
All who knew J. L. knew that the only thing he loved more than his family, his friends and his country was his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Immanuel Baptist Church was his church home for 77 years and 52 of those were spent as a tenor in the choir and as a popular soloist.
Deepest gratitude and appreciation from J. L.'s family are extended to Dr. Jennifer Coe, Dr. George Schroeder, Russ Harrington, to his angels at Baptist Hospice, CareLink, to a special friend and caregiver, Charlene Davis, whose loving kindness and professional care meant so much during the many months of J.L.'s declining health, and to all of J.L.'s friends.
Charitable memorials may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church Choir, 501 N. Shackleford Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211, to Baptist Hospice, 11900 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72210, or to CareLink of Central Arkansas, P.O. Box 5988, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72119.
The family wishes to celebrate J.L.'s life with friends and family during a visitation at 10:00AM, Tuesday, May 3, 2011, with the funeral services following at 11:00AM in the Chapel of Immanuel Baptist Church.
Services will be conducted by Dr. Charles Barfield and Pastor Rick Jaggars both of Immanuel Baptist Church. A private graveside service will be held afterward at Rest Hills Memorial Park.
E U L O G Y
Good morning. I’m Stephen Tate, one of J.L’s three sons, and on behalf of our family, I thank each of you for making time in your lives to be with us this morning to celebrate Daddy’s long and blessed life.
You just don’t know how special and how gratifying it is to be with so many people who were important to our family over many years. I think the last time so many people gathered that were so close to my Daddy was at his 90th birthday party, eight years ago, so I feel so honored and so humbled today.
When our funeral director sat down with Mama and her boys the other day, he said, “Mrs. Tate, what is the one word you would use to describe your husband’s life?” In turn, he asked the boys. The words that sprang up from this conversation were stalwart, consistent, fearless, and faithful.
All these words are very similar in meaning. If you are stalwart you are dependable, resolute. Consistent means unwavering, steady. Fearless means you aren’t deterred by distractions; you press ahead with your purpose, your mission. The word faithful summarizes these the best, because Daddy would bow his head and lay his cares and concerns and sins down at Jesus’ feet. Like the blind and deaf and lame were brought to Jesus’ feet. And when he said, ”Amen,” he had left those burdens behind and was free of them. It was an amazing prayer life and a wonderful example to all who knew him.
I think we were all surprised that one of us didn’t say HUMOROUS, for he was that! Mr. Baker said last night that J.L. Tate could absolutely ruin a choir rehearsal with a single wise crack! Another word that might be used to describe our Daddy might be frugal…or…economical...or…(let’s just be honest) CHEAP! Those of you who knew him understand. Living through the Great Depression when your parents lost everything they had and had to move to another state to find work will do that to you.
But his faith and his prayer life were the things we found most remarkable and most important, and they will be the things we miss the most from Daddy’s passing. He had a prayer list, and many, if not everyone in this chapel today has been on that list from time to time. Many times Daddy told me, “I pray for you three boys, every day.” That explains many blessings that the three of us have received. We will miss that.
But not everything that Daddy stood for is gone.
If you read Daddy’s obituary, or if you knew him well, you know that among his many interests and experiences, some were more pronounced than others. Three main things come to mind here: First as a young man, he had been drafted into WWII and the Army Air Corps and was a military man during that conflict. He told this story about how he got into the Air Force. He was at the induction center with a hundred other draftees. An officer came to the front of the room and asked for a show of hands. He said, “How many of you can read?” (You have to remember that this was 1942 and only about half of the men raised their hand.) The officer then said, “Keep your hand up if you can read and write.” Daddy said half of the hands fell. Then the speaker asked how many can read, write and type. Daddy was the only one with his hand still up. The officer pointed at Daddy and said, “Ok, you go with him,” pointing at another uniformed person. “You are now an NCO.” So, Daddy had been made an NCO, something an enlistee could only expect after several of years of service…all because he could type. And if you think about it, there aren’t a whole lot of typists on the front lines during a war. So, as soon his boys got old enough to get our fingers around a typewriter, he insisted that we learn how! But he was always a patriot and he valued his military service. It had been important to him.
The Flag of the United States of America that is tri-folded inside Daddy’s coffin is testimony to this.
Second, you know that Daddy was an avid reader and writer and photographer, self- educated in each, and was accomplished in each. He read novels and non-fiction books until his eyes went dark eight years ago. In fact, he was reading when blindness settled in on him from macular degeneration. He wrote stories, poems, songs...magnificent letters…and letters to the editor. Show of hands…how many of you remember reading one of his letters to the editor in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette? Virtually everyone, so I don’t need to belabor that point. But he was big into reading, writing and his photographs.
Third, Daddy loved music...all kinds of music. Like I said, he had written a number of songs...lullabies, love songs. He used to sing his sons to sleep with a lullaby called “Little Cloud” that he had written. He had gone to New York City and studied to act and sing on Broadway but was called back by the need to help his father in their Drug Store which was across the street from the Old Immanuel Baptist Church. And he sang in the choir for over 50 years, so music…and especially church music…was very important to him.
So those were the three things…military, literature, and music.
It occurred to me just the other day, (and this kind of surprised all of us, because we hadn’t thought of it before) but, one of J.L. Tate’s sons spent his career in the U.S. Air Force, one of his sons became a journalist, editor, and publisher and one of his sons became a professional church musician! So if you wanted to measure how much we respected and revered our father, you only have to look at how we spent our lives. We never thought of it as following in his footsteps, but we did.
In closing, I want to say that my Daddy was a very, very wise man. I know this because the wisest thing he ever did was to woo and win and keep his wife of almost 63 years, Mercer Janet Hopson. Complementary to each other, they supported one another. They lived exemplary lives as citizens, as parents, and as Christians.
So, again, thank you for being with us today. Thanks for letting me reminisce with you about Daddy. And if you didn’t get to visit with us before the service, don’t get away without seeing us. We thank God for his life, the memories and his legacy.
Sergeant Tate, Daddy, (salute) you will be missed.
Written and Delivered by Col. Stephen M. Tate (ret.), Tuesday 3 May 2011 at Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas.
J. L. Tate of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away April 30 at the age of 98. He was born April 11, 1913 to the late F. E. and Daisy Lee Walker Tate in Cardwell, Missouri. He attended schools in Festus and Crystal City, Missouri, in Paragould, Arkansas, where he graduated from high school, at Colorado State College, Greely, Colorado, and in New York City, NewYork, where he studied theatrical arts.
J. L. is survived by his devoted wife of 62 years, Mercer Janet Hopson Tate; three sons, Stephen and wife Becky Curtis Tate of Beavercreek, Ohio, Byron and wife Pat Smith Tate of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and Galen Tate of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was blessed to enjoy three grandchildren, Nathan and Mary Kathryn Tate, both of Beijing, China, and Ethan Tate, a second-year student at the University of Chicago.
A patriot from America's Greatest Generation, J. L. was a decorated U.S. Army Air Corps NCO who served in both the European and Pacific Theaters, Puerto Rico, Alaska, and stateside during WWII.
After the war he joined his father in ownership of Tate's Drug Store at 10th and Marshall Streets in Little Rock. He spent the next 35 years as a pharmaceutical salesman, during which time he served terms as president of the Arkansas Drug Travelers Association and was made an Arkansas Traveler. He retired in 1985 at the age of 72.
J. L.'s special interests included a deep appreciation of music, reading, writing, travel, antique autos, politics and photography. He shared each interest with his family and leaves behind a treasure trove of souvenirs and loving memories.
All who knew J. L. knew that the only thing he loved more than his family, his friends and his country was his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Immanuel Baptist Church was his church home for 77 years and 52 of those were spent as a tenor in the choir and as a popular soloist.
Deepest gratitude and appreciation from J. L.'s family are extended to Dr. Jennifer Coe, Dr. George Schroeder, Russ Harrington, to his angels at Baptist Hospice, CareLink, to a special friend and caregiver, Charlene Davis, whose loving kindness and professional care meant so much during the many months of J.L.'s declining health, and to all of J.L.'s friends.
Charitable memorials may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church Choir, 501 N. Shackleford Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211, to Baptist Hospice, 11900 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72210, or to CareLink of Central Arkansas, P.O. Box 5988, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72119.
The family wishes to celebrate J.L.'s life with friends and family during a visitation at 10:00AM, Tuesday, May 3, 2011, with the funeral services following at 11:00AM in the Chapel of Immanuel Baptist Church.
Services will be conducted by Dr. Charles Barfield and Pastor Rick Jaggars both of Immanuel Baptist Church. A private graveside service will be held afterward at Rest Hills Memorial Park.
E U L O G Y
Good morning. I’m Stephen Tate, one of J.L’s three sons, and on behalf of our family, I thank each of you for making time in your lives to be with us this morning to celebrate Daddy’s long and blessed life.
You just don’t know how special and how gratifying it is to be with so many people who were important to our family over many years. I think the last time so many people gathered that were so close to my Daddy was at his 90th birthday party, eight years ago, so I feel so honored and so humbled today.
When our funeral director sat down with Mama and her boys the other day, he said, “Mrs. Tate, what is the one word you would use to describe your husband’s life?” In turn, he asked the boys. The words that sprang up from this conversation were stalwart, consistent, fearless, and faithful.
All these words are very similar in meaning. If you are stalwart you are dependable, resolute. Consistent means unwavering, steady. Fearless means you aren’t deterred by distractions; you press ahead with your purpose, your mission. The word faithful summarizes these the best, because Daddy would bow his head and lay his cares and concerns and sins down at Jesus’ feet. Like the blind and deaf and lame were brought to Jesus’ feet. And when he said, ”Amen,” he had left those burdens behind and was free of them. It was an amazing prayer life and a wonderful example to all who knew him.
I think we were all surprised that one of us didn’t say HUMOROUS, for he was that! Mr. Baker said last night that J.L. Tate could absolutely ruin a choir rehearsal with a single wise crack! Another word that might be used to describe our Daddy might be frugal…or…economical...or…(let’s just be honest) CHEAP! Those of you who knew him understand. Living through the Great Depression when your parents lost everything they had and had to move to another state to find work will do that to you.
But his faith and his prayer life were the things we found most remarkable and most important, and they will be the things we miss the most from Daddy’s passing. He had a prayer list, and many, if not everyone in this chapel today has been on that list from time to time. Many times Daddy told me, “I pray for you three boys, every day.” That explains many blessings that the three of us have received. We will miss that.
But not everything that Daddy stood for is gone.
If you read Daddy’s obituary, or if you knew him well, you know that among his many interests and experiences, some were more pronounced than others. Three main things come to mind here: First as a young man, he had been drafted into WWII and the Army Air Corps and was a military man during that conflict. He told this story about how he got into the Air Force. He was at the induction center with a hundred other draftees. An officer came to the front of the room and asked for a show of hands. He said, “How many of you can read?” (You have to remember that this was 1942 and only about half of the men raised their hand.) The officer then said, “Keep your hand up if you can read and write.” Daddy said half of the hands fell. Then the speaker asked how many can read, write and type. Daddy was the only one with his hand still up. The officer pointed at Daddy and said, “Ok, you go with him,” pointing at another uniformed person. “You are now an NCO.” So, Daddy had been made an NCO, something an enlistee could only expect after several of years of service…all because he could type. And if you think about it, there aren’t a whole lot of typists on the front lines during a war. So, as soon his boys got old enough to get our fingers around a typewriter, he insisted that we learn how! But he was always a patriot and he valued his military service. It had been important to him.
The Flag of the United States of America that is tri-folded inside Daddy’s coffin is testimony to this.
Second, you know that Daddy was an avid reader and writer and photographer, self- educated in each, and was accomplished in each. He read novels and non-fiction books until his eyes went dark eight years ago. In fact, he was reading when blindness settled in on him from macular degeneration. He wrote stories, poems, songs...magnificent letters…and letters to the editor. Show of hands…how many of you remember reading one of his letters to the editor in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette? Virtually everyone, so I don’t need to belabor that point. But he was big into reading, writing and his photographs.
Third, Daddy loved music...all kinds of music. Like I said, he had written a number of songs...lullabies, love songs. He used to sing his sons to sleep with a lullaby called “Little Cloud” that he had written. He had gone to New York City and studied to act and sing on Broadway but was called back by the need to help his father in their Drug Store which was across the street from the Old Immanuel Baptist Church. And he sang in the choir for over 50 years, so music…and especially church music…was very important to him.
So those were the three things…military, literature, and music.
It occurred to me just the other day, (and this kind of surprised all of us, because we hadn’t thought of it before) but, one of J.L. Tate’s sons spent his career in the U.S. Air Force, one of his sons became a journalist, editor, and publisher and one of his sons became a professional church musician! So if you wanted to measure how much we respected and revered our father, you only have to look at how we spent our lives. We never thought of it as following in his footsteps, but we did.
In closing, I want to say that my Daddy was a very, very wise man. I know this because the wisest thing he ever did was to woo and win and keep his wife of almost 63 years, Mercer Janet Hopson. Complementary to each other, they supported one another. They lived exemplary lives as citizens, as parents, and as Christians.
So, again, thank you for being with us today. Thanks for letting me reminisce with you about Daddy. And if you didn’t get to visit with us before the service, don’t get away without seeing us. We thank God for his life, the memories and his legacy.
Sergeant Tate, Daddy, (salute) you will be missed.
Written and Delivered by Col. Stephen M. Tate (ret.), Tuesday 3 May 2011 at Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Family Members
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
