Frances M. Tate

Frances Mary Tate was born in Hopewell, Va., on Feb. 8, 1940. She was the seventh child of eleven and first daughter born to Carrie and Lofton Tate, Sr.
Growing up with her brothers, young Frances was a bit of a tomboy, but she loved reading and writing. She graduated from JEJ Moore High School in 1957.
Her ambitious personality led her to relocate to Brooklyn, NY, in 1961. She enjoyed the New York night life, and her resemblance to actresses Pam Grier and Nichelle Nichols often made her the center of attention.
Frances was not just a pretty face. She always strove to better herself. She took night classes, and landed a job at Bell Telephone company in Brooklyn. She would later work at New York University, MetLife Insurance Company, and several other New York firms.
In 1973, she gave birth to her first child, Shandra, and two years later, she had her second daughter, Tracee. Frances was a dedicated single mother who worked hard to give her daughters the best life possible. When she became a grandmother in 1992, she extended that same love and dedication to the next generation.
Failing eyesight forced Frances into early retirement in the late 1990s, and in 2005 she moved back to Hopewell. She made her final move from this earthly life on March 14, 2016, at the age of 76.
The memory of this beautiful, smart, strong, funny and loving woman will be cherished by her daughters Shandra and Tracee; grandsons, Eric, Christopher and Khafre; granddaughter Ashley; brothers Lofton Jr. and Sylvester; sister Clara; niece Tyriss, and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Celebration of life service will be held 1 p.m., Monday, March 21, 2016, at the Chapel of Bland & Tucker Funeral Home, Petersburg. Elder E. J. Robinson, Ark of the Covenant Fellowship Center, Decatur, GA, eulogist. Interment will follow at Mt. Sinai Community Cemetery, Prince George.
Professional services have been entrusted to the Bland & Tucker Funeral Homes, 137 Harrison St., Petersburg, Va (804) 732-7841. Family members and friends may leave an online condolence, blandenterprisesinc.com.