Robert Leon "Bob" Tatum

Mr. Robert "Bob" Leon Tatum, age 74 of Carrollton, Georgia, passed away on Monday, December 8, 2025.
Bob was born on February 7, 1951, in Carroll County, Georgia, the son of the late Rufus Leon Tatum and Kathleen Brown Tatum. He built a long and respected career as an attorney. He was a member of Carrollton First Methodist Church and loved the Lord and loved sharing his faith.
His law career included time at McCurdy & Candler in Decatur, Georgia, among others. He also established the law firm of Tatum & Williams, P.C., in Marietta before moving home to Carrollton to care for his aging parents and founding Tatum Law Firm, where he practiced real estate law. He was a member of the State Bar of Georgia for 41 years and he never considered himself retired.
Bob was a graduate of the Carrollton High School Class of 1969, serving as class president for several years and was voted Mr. CHS as a senior. He attended the University of Georgia and earned a law degree from Woodrow Wilson College of Law. A member of the Trojan Hall of Fame, he held the school pole vault record when he graduated. He starred on the football field as well, with seven receiving touchdowns for the 1968 squad that finished as region champions and state runners-up. In the 7-6 state title loss to Thomson High School and future NFL Hall of Famer Ray Guy, Tatum caught a 55-yard touchdown pass from Bob Horsley in the second quarter.
He always wanted another opportunity to pole vault later in life – hopefully with new technology rather than bamboo poles. He'll now get that chance in a heavenly track meet.
Bob, known as "Pop" to his grandchildren, served on the Carrollton Planning Commission, was a member of the Carrollton Dawnbreakers Rotary Club, served as president of the Carroll County Bar Association and was a member of the Alzheimer's Group of Carroll County.
Until his illness, Bob always enjoyed gardening, bird watching, playing guitar, sketching, watching the Georgia Bulldogs and vacationing at the beach or mountains with his family. Many friends lovingly called him Tater Bug.
Survivors include his wife of 23 years and the love of his life, Karen Fuller Tatum; sisters and brothers-in-law, Kay and Robert Wilson, Patsy and Bill Rhodes; daughters and sons-in-law, Heather and Shannon Ray, Kristen and Tyler Sabo; grandchildren, John Robert Ray, Brennan Ray, Jacey Sabo and Ty Sabo; mother-in-law, Doris Beckham; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Cheryl and Scott McDonald and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at Almon Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Funeral service will take place on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Carrollton First Methodist Church with Rev. Travis Sneed, Pastor Jeff Maxwell and Pastor Micah Kilgore officiating.
Interment will follow in Carroll Memory Gardens, with Harrison Waller, Preston Wilson, Lee Rhodes, Tyler Sabo, Shannon Ray, John Robert Ray, Brennan Ray, Ty Sabo, and Scott McDonald serving as pallbearers.
Honorary pallbearers will be "godchild Luke Wilson", Andrew Mills, Mark Wilson, Robert Wilson, Paul Rhodes, Bill Rhodes, Steve Shargel and members of the Carrollton High School Class of 1969.
The family would like to thank Tanner Medical Center, Pine Knoll Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Gentiva Hospice, Lakisha Gamble, Vickie Bonner and Linda Evans of Healing Heartz for their additional care of Bob.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Carrollton First Methodist Church – Music Ministry, 206 Newnan Street, Carrollton, GA 30117 or Tabernacle Baptist Church – Music Ministry, 150 Tabernacle Drive, Carrollton, GA 30117.
Messages of condolence may be expressed to the family online at www.almonfuneralhome.com.
Almon Funeral Home of Carrollton has charge of arrangements.