Mary Ethel Tatum

1927 - 2017

Mary Ethel Tatum

Winston-Salem

Mrs. Mary Ethel Tatum (née Ellington) of Winston-Salem, passed away on Friday, January 7, 2017 at Forsyth Medical Center.

Mary was born July 21, 1927 in Orange County, to Ethel Wright and Edgar Worth Ellington. She was one of five children and the only daughter. She was raised in Pittsboro, and Chapel Hill, NC until high school. At that time, her family relocated to Charleston, SC where her father worked in the Charleston Navy Yard during World War II.

After graduating from Memminger High School in Charleston, Mary returned to Chapel Hill to attend the University of North Carolina where she earned a degree in pharmacy in 1948. While in college, Mary met her husband James William Tatum of 52 years who predeceased her in 2000. Upon their marriage, she made Winston-Salem her home. She was a licensed pharmacist for over fifty years. Mary was an active member of Ardmore United Methodist Church, a Soroptomist, and a 26-year member of the Col. Joseph Winston Chapter, NSDAR. For many years she was a dedicated volunteer at Crisis Control Pharmacy and Forsyth Medical Center. In addition, with her husband, they restored and preserved residential and commercial property in the West End of Winston-Salem.

As well as her husband, Mary was predeceased by her parents and four brothers.

She is survived by her children, Mary Ellington Tatum of Raleigh, NC; James (Eddie) Edgar Tatum of Winston-Salem; and William (Bill) Franklin Tatum (Joan) also of Winston-Salem. She is also survived by her six grandchildren, Scott Wagner (Claire) and children George and Forrest of Blacksburg, VA; Mary Elizabeth Brake (Robert) and children Bo and Jeb of Raleigh; Michael Tatum (Andrea) of Asheboro, NC; Amanda Pino (Juan) and children Sophia and Jaxon of Winston-Salem; James Tatum (Lauren) also of Winston-Salem; and Joseph Tatum of Portland, OR.

A memorial service will be held Friday, January 13 at 11:00am at Ardmore United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem with visitation following. Memorials may be made to Ardmore United Methodist Church (630 S. Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103) or Senior Services of Winston-Salem (2895 Shorefair Drive, NW, Winston-Salem, NC 27105).