[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO DR. SUDIE TATUM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 15, 2011

  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to give tribute to Dr. Sudie E. Tatum 
who passed away on June 1, 2011. On Sunday, June 5, 2011, services were 
held at Greater Galilee Missionary Baptist Church. The church had long 
planned to celebrate her life on this date; they felt no need to change 
it and held her funeral as part of ``Dr. Tatum Day.''
  Dr. Tatum was born as Sudie Ethel Ware in Harrell, Arkansas and 
raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was a high school dropout, who 
became an educator. She graduated from UW-Milwaukee with qualifications 
for both teacher and social work. Dr. Tatum earned a master's degree in 
education administration and a doctorate in theology. Dr. Tatum taught 
adult basic education at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
  She was active in church leadership and for 38 years served as 
president of the Women's Auxiliary of the General Baptist State 
Convention of Wisconsin. As president, she was a strong advocate for 
women, raising funds for mission work and was quite able of reminding 
men in authority that women kept the churches going.
  Dr. Tatum's work with the church led her to distant La Hatte, Haiti, 
where she felt compelled to build a new church and school. She asked 
her family for money to help build the church and school. She 
contributed money that she had saved to purchase a car and family 
members donated the rest of the needed $18,000.
  Dr. Tatum was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Earl 
Tatum. She never gave birth but raised her late sister's children as 
her own. Survivors include the children she raised, David Hollins Sr., 
Jynette Hamilton, Pastor Sudie B. Jones, Shirley Owens, Ruthie L. 
Darrough and James Hollins Jr.; and their children. Instead of flowers, 
she requested an offering for home and foreign ministries; therefore, a 
collection was taken as people left her service.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise because Dr. Sudie E. Tatum is an example of the 
best of what Milwaukee and the Fourth Congressional District has to 
offer. She will be remembered as a woman who packed plenty of life into 
her 92 years and, who took the opportunity to combine the joys of her 
life: love of family, education, social work, guidance and missionary 
work.

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