Jewel Deen Tate, age 86, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on Jan. 8, 2016, at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital.
Visitation will be Wednesday, Jan. 13, noon-2 p.m., at Spry-Williams Funeral Home, Florence. The service will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Brother Stan Dean officiating. Interrment will be at Blue Water Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her loving parents, Elmer and Flora Mel Kelley, as well as her sister, Brenda Killen, and a brother, John Kelley.
Jewel is survived by her husband of 68 years, Willie Arlee Tate; and six children, Janice Allen (Ray), Randall Tate (Evenlyn), Vickie Spurling (Gary), Denise Bevis, David Tate, and Cindy Agee (Ricky); also her dear sister, Margaret Rhodes; and brother, Gentry Kelley; and much loved and cherished, 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
She was known in the community for her gift of designing floral arrangements, but her greatest achievement was tending to her six children. In an era of cultivating food from gardening, hanging clothing outside to dry, and ironing bed linens, her daily tasks would entail endless hours of labor.
Throughout her life she maintained a sweet and simple demeanor that won the trust and hearts of many. Her signature gift of joy, possessing a contagious smile and an entertaining sense of humor, will never be forgotten. A new mission takes her to a wonderful place where she can resume her love of arranging flowers, an abundance of coffee at her disposal, and a reunion with family and friends. She is our angel that lived, laughed, and loved; our heart and soul and the glue that held us together. We will miss you dearly, but now it is your time to rest our precious mother and dance with the angels. We will meet again and resume the joy and laughter on the other side.
The family wishes to thank Julie, Gentiva, for your patience and guidance, along with the Palliative Care Unit and Donna Tate for her assistance with mother’s care at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital. A special note of appreciation to our brother, David, for the day after day care and devotion to our mother.
You may sign the guest register at sprywilliams.com.
