Sue M. Tate

Sue M. Tate Mrs. William F. "Sue" Tate passed away Sunday, April 27, 2014 in Tupelo, MS at the age of 91. She was born Elizabeth Sue McCormick on September 11, 1922 in Belmont, Mississippi. The daughter of William Rady and Edna Ellen McCormick, she was a graduate of the Corinth High School class of 1940. After high school, she moved to Jackson where she graduated with honors from Millsaps College with a degree in History. In 1944, following college, she moved to Tupelo, MS where she worked for the North Mississippi Conference of the Methodist Church. Following his return from WWII, Sue met the love of her life, William F. Tate. They were married September 1, 1946 and remained happily married for 60 years. Together, Bill and Sue helped establish Camp Lake Stephens in Oxford, Ms, and Sue served as the first Camp Director. They also founded Tate Realty Company, later known as TRI Inc. Realtors, where Sue served as an active Broker / Owner for more than 50 years. Sue was a progressive business woman whose career in real estate was marked with many prestigious positions and honors. She served as President of the North Mississippi Board of Realtors, and Chair of the Mississippi Association of Realtors' (MAR) Risk Reduction Committee and Equal Housing Opportunity Committee. While in these roles, she was instrumental in MAR becoming a signatory to the NAR / HUD Equal Housing Agreement. Sue also served on MAR's Executive Committee as the Northern District Vice President, the only female executive at the time. She was a member and National Director of the National Association of Realtors' Equal Housing Opportunity Committee. On her birthday in 2001, Sue was voted into the Mississippi Realtor Hall of Fame. In addition to her career, Sue was a valued leader in her community. She served as a Trustee at Millsap's College. She was also a director on the board at North Mississippi Medical Center from 1985-1991, and President of the Prairie Girl Scout Council Board of Directors. She served as Chairman of the Administrative Board of the First United Methodist Church, and was a longstanding and active member of the Junior Auxiliary of Tupelo. Visitation for Mrs. Tate will be from 5:30 to 7:30 Tuesday, April 29th, at Pegues Funeral Home. There will be visitation Wednesday at 10:00 am followed by services at 11:00 am at the First United Methodist Church of Tupelo. She is survived by her daughters Ellen Short (Jeff) of Tupelo, MS, and Becky Cade (Paul Drew) of Jackson, Ms. as well as her sister Marianne Hill of Tifton GA. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Clay Short (Danille), Andy Short (Lacy), Elizabeth Short, and Suzanna Evans (Jeff), six great-grandchildren: Chris Roy (Bethany), Jeramy Hoch, William Short, Ethan Short, Jackson Short, and Lauren Nicole Short, and numerous nieces and nephews. Sue is preceded in death by her parents, W. R. and Edna Ellen McCormick, her sister Geraldine Whitaker, and her husband William F. Tate Pallbearers will be Charley Buckley, Pete Poland, Ron Stephens, Allen Whitaker, Hunter Cade, and Henry Dodge. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be TRI and Tupelo Realty Co. staff, Haywood Washburn, O'Neal Tate, Jan Lancaster, Carolyn Lee, Carolyn Boggan, Amber Buckley, Amber Terry, Sarah Maddox, Deisha Cruse, Belva Poland, and Mary Jane Barnett. Sue's family would also like to thank all of her doctors, nurses, caretakers, and the staff at the Methodist Senior Services for their loving care.