Willie Webster Tatum age 92, of Oxford, MS, passed away January 30, 2006 in the Yalobusha County Nursing Home. He lived in the Union West Community in Lafayette County most of his life and in addition to farming; he was employed by Lafayette County until retirement years ago. Mr. Tatum was a member of the Orwood Presbyterian Church in Lafayette County.
The family will receive friends at Seven Oaks Funeral Home on Wednesday evening, February 1, 2006 from 6:00 until 8:00 PM. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2006 in Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home at 2:00 pm with Rev. Derick Starnes and Rev. Freddie Moorman officiating. Interment will follow in Orwood Cemetery in Lafayette County, with Dewayne Johnson, Derek Mills, Scott Whitten, Joseph Whitten, Jason Beaver, Mike Tatum and Chuck Tatum serving as pallbearers.
Surviving Mr. Tatum are 3 daughters; Jeannette Johnson of Huntsville, AL - Vera Anne Baxter of Gulfport, MS - Kitsy Stracener of Huntsville, AL ; 2 sons, G.L. Tatum of Oxford, MS and Luther Tatum of Oxford, MS; 9 grandchildren - Dewayne Johnson, Shiela Polk, Derek Mills, Scott Whitten, Joseph Whitten, Jason Beaver, Mike Tatum, Chuck Tatum and Sharon Clark; 14 great grandchildren - Hunter Tatum, Kaitlyn Tatum, Mikayla Beaver, Kristian Beaver, Steven McCartt, Julie Hamilton, Dustin Johnson, Tiffany Ray, Timothy Ray, Noah Mills, Kieley Mills, Kimberly Polk, Ashley Polk and Joel Polk: 1 Great-great grandchild - Baylas Hamilton.
Preceding Mr. Tatum in death were his parents - Arthur Guinn Tatum and Lillie Dale Mathis Tatum : wife - Nora Vera Phillips Tatum ( Dec. 8, 1983): sisters - Ruth Hipps, Annis Nichols and Myrtle Mills : brothers - Paul Tatum, Merrill Tatum, Hargis Tatum and Arthur Camp Tatum.