Tommy Tate

Tommy Tate died peacefully at his home Saturday, June 15, 2024. He was born November 18,1930, in Marion, Alabama to L.E. Tate and Elsie McEIroy Tate. He was a 1948 graduate of Meridian High School. In 1947, he joined the Mississippi Army National Guard and was subsequently married to his high school sweetheart, Betty Jo McLemore on February 5, 1949. He was activated for the Korean Conflict in 1951 and was stationed at Fort Jackson, SC. After his return to Meridian, he was employed by  Swift and Company followed by Jackson Meat Packing Company until 1976. His real estate career began in 1976 in Columbus, MS and he continued to have a real estate/brokers license until his death.

Tommy was a member of Golden Triangle Association of Realtors and past president of the Columbus Board of Realtors. He was a past board member of what is now Bank First Financial. He served as a Mississippi Senior Services board member and past president. He was a longtime member of First Methodist Church and the Lewis Fellowship Sunday School Class. Tommy was a member and past president of Columbus Host Lions Club and was a mason & shriner. He purchased Swoope Real Estate in 1987 and was the owner until October, 2022.

Tommy was predeceased by his wife, Betty Jo, his grandson, Taylor Wright, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is survived by his son Tony (Kathy) Tate, his daughter Debbie (Bob) Howland; his sister, Faye Hughes Ferguson; his grandchildren Shelly (Andy) Buffa, David (Jolie) Tate, Kelly (Corey) Epperson; his great grandchildren Lane, Reid, and Lauren Tate, Hannah Howland, Elizabeth Ludwig, and Harrison Buffa and great great grandsons Sage Ludwig and Rowe Tate.

A celebration service will be Tuesday June 18, 2024, at First Methodist Church, with Rev. Dr. Vaughn Stafford officiating. A visitation will be in Carolyn’s Room at 2PM with the service to follow at 3PM in the sanctuary. Burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery.

Pallbearers will include David Tate, Lane Tate, Reid Tate, Andy Buffa, Harrison Buffa, Mark Hughes, Billy Blaine, and Ben Chilcutt. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr James Woodard, Dr Douglas Hill, Dr Dan Bennett, Larry Summerville, Ray Gore, Chris Bonner, and Lewis Fellowship Sunday School Class.

Memorials may be made to First Methodist Church, P.O. Box 32, Columbus, MS 39703, Methodist Senior Services Sunday Fund, 300 Airline Rd, Columbus, MS 39702, or Kewanee Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Leland Cobb, P.O. Box 5633, Meridian, MS. 39302-5633.