Rev. ‘Jack’ Tatum

DEMOREST – Rev. Robert “Jack” Tatum, 92, died Friday, May 22, 2009, at his residence at Magnolia Hills Assisted Living in Demorest.

Born on March 26, 1917, in Palmetto, he was the son of the late Robert D. and Florence Jackson Tatum, and was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Edna Tomlinson. He was a graduate of Mercer University, Macon, and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., and was ordained as a Baptist minister by the Rahmah Baptist Church in Palmetto in 1937. Churches he served include the Clarkesville Baptist Church, Clarkesville, First Baptist Church, Cornelia, First Baptist Church, Buford, Prince Avenue Baptist Church, Athens, and the Crawford Avenue Baptist Church, Augusta. Following his retirement, he served as interim pastor of several churches in Habersham and Stephens County. During World War II, he served as a United States Army Chaplain in the European Theater. Following the war he served in the United States Army Reserves, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Survivors include a niece, Jane T. Washington, Newnan; and a nephew, David E. Tatum Jr., Palmetto.

Memorial services were held Sunday, May 24, at the Bethlehem Baptist Church with the Revs. Tommy Stowe and Furman Lewis officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 329, Palmetto, GA 30268.

Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, Demorest, was in charge of arrangements.