Earnestine Y. Tatum

Earnestine Yates Tatum, of Lawrenceville, Va., formerly of Bronx, N.Y., where she lived for many years, departed life on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, at the Community Memorial Health Annex after a period of declining health.

Earnestine was born in Dinwiddie County, Va., on June 23, 1920, to the late Lee Ernest and Lucy Ann Edwards Yates. She was the ninth of 12 children, all of whom preceded her in death. She was educated in the Dinwiddie Public School System, where she graduated from high school.

She is survived by her son, Christopher C. Tatum, from her marriage to the late Robert Lee Tatum; her daughter-in-law, Amelia E. Tatum of Alberta; two grandchildren, Christopher S. Tatum, and Danielle T. Harper and her husband, Carnell Harper; two great-grandchildren, Ashley M. Harper and Carnell Harper II of Alberta; five nephews, Tyrone Wyatt (Gerri), Donald Westbrook (Allena) of Dinwiddie, Henry Perkins Jr. (Gail), Larry McIntell and Michael Westbrook of New York, and a host of other nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, at the Chapel of Johnson Funeral Home, McKenney, with Brother Carnell Harper officiating.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph M. Johnson & Son Funeral Home, 11107 Doyle Blvd., McKenney, (804) 478-4411.