Nelda Lorenne Tate

Funeral services for Nelda Lorenne “Lori” Tate will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 3 pm at Westside Baptist Church with Bro. Steve McAlister officiating.  There will be a visitation time on Tuesday at Westside Baptist Church beginning at 2 pm.  The family will receive friends for a visitation on Monday, June 17, 2024 at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home from 5 pm until 8 pm.  A second service will be held on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at Rock Corner Baptist Church in Dubach, LA at 11 am with Bro. Clovis Sturdivant and Bro. Larry Bullock officiating.  Interment will follow at Rock Corner Cemetery.

“You want to hear a joke?” or “Have you seen Steel Magnolias? Do you recognize me? I was the mother of the groom, Dylan McDermott,” she’d begin…. Lorenne Frasier Tate was a force to be reckoned with when she got your attention. You always left her presence feeling as if you had been in a production. Many were taken under her wing to be shown the ropes of the restaurant business, the social scene in Natchitoches, NSU, APHN, or as tourists seeing her “33 Historic Blocks” or “Steel Magnolias” Tours. Everything from Demon’s Grill to Melrose, to Hampton Inn, finally, at age “39” (89) were left with her indelible mark. 

She began leading music at Rock Corner Baptist Church at age 12, graduated Ruston High and went to Shreveport to business college to launch into her career. She hostessed, worked the movie theater, saw Elvis at the beginning of his career, and met the love of her life, Clovis “Carl” Tate. Many moves and career changes, including Boeing during the first space launches and T.L. James in Ruston, finally found her in Natchitoches, her grandest stage and home. She enjoyed pleasing people: telling jokes, doing tours, was a stand-up comedienne and church hostess who wanted everyone to find their place–and enjoy it! Her family loved being taken along for the ride.

Her top priority wherever she landed was finding a church family. Faith played a vital role in her family life. The legacy of faith in Christ had been bequeathed to her and she was determined not to drop the baton. Family reunions were part of her resume, and she helped organize them like a stage production. Being involved at church brought much joy–people mattered. Longtime bonds formed were precious. She lovingly teased everyone, even her beloved pastors in front of their whole church. She loved hostessing events, loved singing in Joyful Sounds (but had the tambourine taken away). Sunday school, VBS, banquets, Dinner on the Grounds, committees, showers– she loved it all! Not one of those events or their people will feel her loss more keenly than her family and friends who treasured her every attention.

Natchitoches was her largest family. She lived and breathed its promotion and loved imploring others to get involved, too. Civic organizations felt her influence, and she, in turn, was awarded many accolades for going above and beyond, including Professional Business Woman of the Year and “Natchitoches Treasure”. She never retired, she simply moved venues to The Council on Aging exercise class, where she was expected to tell at least one joke per day, and she never disappointed. When asked for a goodbye or dismissal, in royal “Queen of Natchitoches” style, she inevitably blessed us all with her favorite, 

“May the road rise up to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back, 

May the sun shine warm upon your face

May the rain fall softly on your fields, 

And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

There is not enough space on a page or words in any language to encapsulate the life and love this woman both held and inspired in those she touched. Punk, Lorenne, Mrs. Tate, Ms. Lori, Mama, Mamaw, we will miss you more than we know how to say.

Lori was born on January 20, 1931 in Dubach, LA to Elton Frasier and Pearlie Luncford Frasier.   She passed away on June 5, 2024 at her home in Natchitoches, with her family by her side.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Elton and Pearlie Frasier; her husband, Clovis C. Tate; and one son, Craig Tate.  

Lori is survived by her daughters, Lorie Tate Speer and Melissa Rene’ Tate Jennings and her husband Lawrence; sister, Margaret Frasier Brewster; brother, James Elton “Son” Frasier and wife Imogene; sisters-in-law, Billie Heard and Christy Brown and husband Max; grandchildren, Barron Brumley, Jacob Shaw, Daniel Shaw (Kaylyn), Jeanette Smith, Sarah Landry (Casey), Grace Campbell (Rebecca), Faith Matthews (Benjamin), Race Jennings, Colt Jennings, Christen Tate, Casey Tate, and Colin Tate; great-grandchildren, Anthony Shaw, Lydia Mogridge, Gabriella Shaw, Robin Matthews, Charlie Justine Matthews, Bobby Craig Arterberry, Roslyn Garbert, Delilah Campbell, and Ulrich Matthews; and many dearly loved nieces and nephews.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers will be Jacob Shaw, Daniel Shaw, Colt Jennings, Casey Landry, Benjamin Matthews, Brandi Smith, Colin Tate, Barron Brumley, and Rebecca Campbell.  Honorary pallbearers will be Son Frasier, Jim Frasier, Jeff Brewster, Jeff Mabry, Doug Boyd, Walter Garner, Durwood Thomas, S. G. Martin, Wayne Walker, Harold Faust, Jack Ingram, “Doc” Wetherington, and Norman Hicks.

Special thanks to the devoted workers with Hospice of Natchitoches: Dominick, Wendy, Melissa, Haley, Kasey, Dorothy, Kristen, Buster, Justina, and Brianna. 

And Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home staff for their compassionate service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Lori's memory to Women's Resource Center of Natchitoches, Northwestern State University, or APHN.