Retired Major Daniel Tatum, II

Retired Major Daniel Tatum, II, US Army of 4644 Juniper Court, Lancaster, California formerly of Americus, Georgia died Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at his residence.

The funeral service, with full military honors, will be held Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 2:00 P. M. in the sanctuary of the Antioch Baptist Church in Americus, Georgia.  The burial will be at the Andersonville National Cemetery in Andersonville, Georgia.

The family may be contacted at 114 Hooks Mill Road, Americus, Georgia.

My journey began on November 4, 1958, I was blessed to be both carried and brought into the world by the late Alice King Tatum Stewart and the late Daniel Tatum Sr. I have a brother-in-law that was also a dear friend the late Rev. Wendell Dowdell. One of my beautiful sisters preceded me in death also, the late Gloria D. Tatum.

 

My parents raised me to “just be me.” They allowed me to occasionally make choices for myself with their guidance. I recall them allowing me to enter the military life upon   graduating high school as opposed to entering college. Now, because of their Christ-likeness, I accepted the Lord as my personal savior at an early age and became a part of Ebenezer Baptist Church until I relocated. I matriculated through the public schools of Sumter County and graduated from Americus High School in 1976. During my high school years, I not only did well academically but was a small part of the football team. I was a running back and helped to win back to back State Championships in 1974 & 1975. I was truly honored to be a part of this history making team and a life-long Panther.

 

On June 20, 1981, I married the love of my life, Brenda Kaye Dowdell. What an awesome partnership for life and no matter what, we made it through. We added to the family with my namesake in 1981, Daniel Tatum III. After a break of thirteen years our daughter   Hannah Candace joined us. Now I thought that we were done and the Lord had other plans and the next thing I knew there was Caleb Christian. We have had to “faith it out in many situations, but the Lord was faithful every time. I hope that I will leave a clear path to follow and that you will take your candle and go light your world. My sons, Travis and Xavion also have special places in my heart. I have served in my home church First Baptist Missionary now Living Stone Cathedral of Worship since 1990. Brenda and I served together in the Marriage Ministry for several years. I served as a deacon and now Leader of the Deacon’s Ministry. I am a part of the Executive Council as well. I truly enjoy all of these positions and try to serve them well.

 

Upon graduation from high school I began a military life that spanned 35 years, both full and part-time service. I served as an enlisted Marine for four years and received an honorable discharge upon my release as a Sergeant. Due to lack of job opportunities in Americus I decided to return to military life as a Marine so as to better provide for my family. I continued to promote as well as to seize every opportunity that presented itself. I became a cadet and moved from enlisted to becoming an officer and ranked out as a Major. This was a life that I thoroughly enjoyed and with the woman that I knew would maintain the home front I had the freedom to do just that. Serving in this capacity brought numerous honors and benefits that continue to serve my wife and children. I became an international traveler during this time and received part of my higher education because of the benefits that I received while serving. I was fortunate to be able to continuing playing football as I pursued my military career.

 

In 1986, I began a career with the California Department of Corrections, where I served as a correctional officer, transportation officer, and correctional sergeant. After twenty plus years, the Lord graced me with retirement.

 

Upon my retirement, I returned to college to obtain my Bachelor’s degree. I enrolled in Brandman University and began to move forward. In May of 2017, I received my Bachelor of Arts Social Science degree. Feeling somewhat satisfied I continued moving forward and entered a master’s program at USC in Social Work because there is always more. More to see and to do, more to reach for.

 

On Tuesday, February 12, 2019, Major/Deacon Daniel Tatum ll answered the last call, “Yes Lord!” and took flight. Cherishing his memories will be his beloved wife of 37 years, Brenda Kaye Dowdell Tatum: his children: Travis Terry, Albany, GA, Daniel Tatum III, Tucson, AZ, Xavion Mychael Tatum, Bakersfield, CA, Hannah Candance Tatum, Alexandria, VA, and Caleb Christian Tatum, Lancaster, CA; a grandson, Devin Terry, Kennessaw, GA; his siblings: Dorothy Gardner, Americus, GA, Danette (Darnell) Hall, Tuskegee, AL, MSG Anthony (Saundra) Tatum, (Ret), Wake Forest, NC, Pastor Susie Tatum (Henry) Smith, Tuskegee, AL, Christopher Tatum, Lisa Tatum, McKeithia (Sam) Hurley, and Justin (LaTasha) Tatum, Conyers, GA; three step siblings, Consuelo, Albert, and Anderson Cooper all of Atlanta GA; brother-in-law: SGM Willie L. Dowdell Jr. (Ret), Albany, GA; his aunts and uncles: Claudette Clark, Randolph, MA, Amie (Hubert) Pettiford, Mattapan, MA, Beatrice Brown, Miami, FL, Johnnie (Denise) King, George King of Americus, GA, Eleanor Charlton, Orlando, FL, and a devoted aunt, Emma (Miller) Rush, Americus, GA; a special grandmother to the children for the last 20+ years, Mother Jessie Harden, Lancaster, CA; god-sister, Bernadine (Dennis) King, Lithonia, GA. “Tatum” was also very thankful for the times he shared with his nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, to include all of those he had a chance to touch shoulders with, be it in corrections, military, school, or just wherever his life’s journey may have carried him.