Add a Memory
Send Flowers
Make a Donation
Charles Tatum Obituary
Charles Howard Tatum, 84, of White Oak, North Carolina, passed away on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at home. He was born in White Oak, North Carolina, on August 6, 1940.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Fletcher Tatum, Sr., and Gussie Lee Colvin Tatum; a brother John Fletcher Tatum, Jr.; a brother Edsel Tatum; the mother of his children Onlee Smith Tatum; a son in law Eric Cortes, a brother-in-law, Ronnie Norris and a nephew, John Wayne Tatum.
Charles, better known as Tater Bug, leaves behind to cherish his memory, son Allan Tatum (fiancé Kelly Lanier) of Elizabethtown, North Carolina;, daughter, Mary Cortes of Richlands, North Carolina; one grandchild Ethen Cortes; brother Robert (Bobby) Colvin Tatum (Mickey) Elizabethtown, North Carolina; sisters Elizabeth (Liz) Tatum Norris of Elizabethtown, North Carolina and Faye Tatum Freeman (Elvin) of Fairmont, North Carolina; step daughters Lisa Turner, Denise Cashwell and Donna Shores; six step grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews and friends as well as special friends Jerry Edge, Lee Owens, Kelvin Flannery (girlfriend Nicole) and Howard Owens.
Charles attended White Oak High School (Class of 1958) and served in the United States Army for three years. He received a degree in welding and was a well-known welder and gardener. Many of the residents in Bladen County benefitted from his gardening expertise. He took great delight in sharing his okra and cherry tomatoes.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 3, 2024, from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 3131 M.L.K. Drive, Elizabethtown, North Carolina.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. at the West Family Cemetery, NC Highway 53 West, White Oak, North Carolina.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the West Family Cemetery Fund, c/o Susan Pope, 532 Woods Walk Lane, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804.
Those of you who knew Charles Howard know that he was just like you saw him - not pretentious. Therefore, we ask that you come to the visitation and/or the service in casual dress.
Please share memories and condolences with the family by clicking on the "Post a Condolence" tab below.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
3131 Martin Luther King Drive PO Box 3150, Elizabethtown, NC 28337
People and places connected with Charles
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Memories and Condolences
for Charles Tatum
Tell your own story about Charles
Memories and condolences can be left on the obituary at the funeral home website.
How you can show support
Make a Donation
in Charles Tatum's name
How to support Charles's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Charles Tatum's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
