Donnie Tate

1922 - 2024

Donnie Tate, affectionately known as ""Mother Tate,"" was born in the small town of Coffeeville, Clarke County, Alabama, on September 23, 1922.

Her parents, the late Maggie Kiel-Harris and Eddie Harris, Sr., were the proud parents of sixteen children, nine girls and seven boys. Not wanting his girls to do farm work in the fields nor domestic work for others, they were sent to the nearby Clarke County Training School. That was quite an education for young Black girls at that time. Mother Tate said she would occasionally take cold water and lunch out to her father and brothers in the field, but that was it! The girls helped their mother in the house and learned skills that would enable them to be productive wives, mothers, and entrepreneurs.

In 1944, Mother Tate married Joe Allen Tate, a tall and handsome gentleman from Lower Peach Tree, Alabama. They were married in New Orleans, Louisiana. The following year, they moved to Detroit, Michigan, where four of her sisters lived. Her husband had several cousins who lived in Detroit, so they built a close-knit unit of cousins, siblings and their husbands and children, frequently having family gatherings and dinners, worshipping together, and supporting one another. Her family of five children included Robert, Joseph Marion, Mary Elizabeth, Coleman Allen, and Kenneth Edward.

The Tate family valued hard work, education, and spiritual development. The children grew up in a home that was filled with love and support. They were supported in their educational pursuits and encouraged to excel. Robert was a long shoreman, Joe was a 20+ year military man with the United States Air Force, Mary retired as Vice-President of Sales with Cigna Health Care, Coleman made the ultimate sacrifice serving as a distinguished firefighter for the City of Detroit, and Kenneth served his country with distinction in the United States Navy.

In addition to seeing that their children receive a quality education, religious growth was also vital in the Tate family. Mother Tate served as a Sunday School teacher, Pastor's Aid president, devotional leader, prayer warrior and Mother, while her husband was a deacon. The children got a healthy dose of church as well (Sunday School, Sunday morning worship service, Sunday afternoon youth service, Sunday night service, and even some mid-week services). Mother told them that they could do other things as well. They just wondered WHEN!!!!

The birthday celebrations that honored Mother Tate on her 90th, 95th and 100th years were highlights in her life. At her 95th birthday celebration, she was made a Shepherd Mother by her pastor, Bishop Laurence V. Plummer. She loved being spoiled, and her daughter Mary and son-in-law Johnnie did just that. She got to go to many places and do many things. She loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and she loved her family.

Mother Tate was preceded in death by her loving parents; her husband, Deacon Joe Tate; her sons, Robert, Joe, Coleman and Kenneth; granddaughter, Xavier Asbury; daughters-in-law, Toni and Debra Faye; and her fifteen siblings, including eight sisters and seven brothers. She was also preceded in death by a dear personal and church friend of over sixty-five years, Barbara M. Lee.

Cherishing her memory with love and affection are: her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Elizabeth and Johnnie Alvin Lee, Jr: adopted children, Earnestine and Cleovis Scott; daughters-in-law, Bernice and D'Juana; grandchildren, Jamie, C'Artis, Alonda, Arleen, Curtis, Kenneth, Angela Nicole, Stephen, Yvonne, Carmen, Coleman Jr., Joe, Larry, Kenneth II (K.C.), Michael, Raphael and Ramon; thirty three great-grandchildren; fourteen great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews who are children of her fifteen siblings; many church friends and other relatives in Michigan, California, and Tennessee, including her pastor in Detroit, Bishop Thomas L. Johnson, Sr., D.D. of Immanuel House of Prayer; and her present spiritual leaders, Bishop Laurence V. Plummer and First Lady Nadine Plummer of Love Fellowship Ministries.

Mother Tate's long life of blessings is captured in one of her favorite Bible scriptures, Psalms 121- ""I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth…""

Visitation, Thursday, April 11, 2024 from 3:30 until 7 p.m. and funeral Friday, April 12, 2024, 11 a.m. at Love Fellowship Ministries 4495 South Germanton Rd. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.