Esset "Baby Ray" Tate Sr.

Esset “Baby Ray” Tate, Sr. Retired from Bucyrus Erie Esset “Baby Ray” Tate, Sr., 81, 2266 Woodlawn Ave., passed away Tuesday, July 26, 2005 at his residence. He was born in Macon, Miss., November 19, 1923, son of Gertrude Gavin Tate of and the late Judge Tate, Sr. He was a resident of Erie for fifty five years and was retired from Bucyrus Erie after thirty four years service and was a member of it’s Quarter Century Club. He was raised in Macon where he was the first Black person to attend the government sponsored Vocational Trade School in Macon County in the early 1940s. He later applied these skills in his self contracting carpentry and masonry jobs in Macon and Erie. He was a veteran of WWII and a former member of Masonic Lodge #137 F&AM, PHA in Macon. He was a member of Holy trinity Church of God in Christ and a former member and Deacon at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Macon. He enjoyed fishing, gardening and cooking. He loved his family. Besides his father he was preceded in death by his wife of fifty seven years, Roberta Robinson Tate; a daughter, Annette Tate and three brothers, Edward Earl, Howard Sr., and John “Plook” Tate. In addition to his mother he leaves to cherish his memory four sons, James Tate, Willie E. Tate, Sr. and his wife Rhea and Leroy Tate and his wife Brenda all of Erie and Esset Tate, Jr. and his wife Elizabeth of Randallstown, Md.; six daughters, Retha Tate Williams, Barbara Roberts and her husband Sherman, Shirley McCray, Charlene Tate and Sharann Tate all of Erie, Doris Cockrell of Maywood, Ill. and Laris Boatman of Chicago; two brothers, Judge Tate, Jr. and his wife Willie Mae and James W. Tate and his wife Lavonia all of Erie; seven sisters, Mary Hampton and her husband Willie C. of Chicago, Bertha Tate Beard of Erie, Arabell Johnson Smith and her husband Fred of Temple Hills, Md., Betty Bijou of Bellwood, Ill., Inez Tate Whitmire and her husband David of Mitchellville, Md., Christine Gavin Lathan of Gulfport, Miss. and Ella Mae Williams of Toledo, Ohio; thirty two grandchildren; thirty seven great grandchildren; several aunts and uncles and many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends. Friends may visit with the family Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Holy Trinity COGIC, 1703 Holland St. The funeral service will be held at Second Baptist Church, 757 E. 26th St., Saturday at 11 a.m. conducted by Elder Willie Harris of Holy Trinity COGIC. Interment Erie Cemetery. Funeralization by Law Funeral Home, 1861 Buffalo Road.