Lola Ree Tate was born in Forest, Mississippi on April 23, 1920, to Viola and Elijah Denham. She is one of four children. She had three brothers.
She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at the age of 12 and was baptized by Rev. J.J. Overstreet, Pastor of Concord Baptist Church. She received her education at the local schools in Forest, Mississippi.
On May 15, 1935, Lola met Robert P. Tate, and on December 4, 1939, they got married in Jasper, Alabama. Lola and Robert resided there until 1942 when Robert was called to active duty in the United States Army. After he was called to active duty, they moved to Indianapolis, Indiana and resided there from 1942 to 1950.
Lola and Robert moved to San Diego, California in 1950 and united with Greater Trinity Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor W. L. Gayton. Lola served in various positions in the church. She organized the Visitation Committee, the B Sharp Organ Club, and taught Sunday School and Mission Lessons for the Esther Circle. Lola served as Vice President of the Mission. She served as Membership Clerk and Financial Secretary for twenty-two years. She was the personal Secretary to Pastor Gayton.
Lola was the last living member whose name is on Greater Trinity’s Cornerstone. She served at Greater Trinity Baptist Church faithfully until 2009, when Lola joined her son, Rev. Dr. Donald Owens at Exodus Church. Mother Lola Tate attended faithfully up to the
age of 101, when her health would not permit her to attend. Lola was a charter member of the Agnes Knight Study Charity & Social Club and Honorary Charter Member of Exodus Church.
In 1957, Lola attended Grossmont School of Nursing and was the first African American Nurse at Grossmont Hospital. She spent her entire Nursing Career at Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, California until she retired in 1981 to care for her husband.
Lola was preceded in death by her husband Robert Paul Tate, her mother
and father Elijah and Viola Denham, and her three brothers. Lola had no biological
children.
She leaves to mourn her adopted son Rev. Dr. Donald (Beverly) Owens,
grandchildren, Monee (Andre) Bell, Tanya Reynolds, Roman Owens (Andrea) and
great-grandchildren; Aarrion Allison, NaJae Reynolds, Grayson Owens, Andre
Bell Jr., and Monet Bell, cousins Rosa Davis (San Diego), Shirley Ann Wilson
(San Diego), John E. Forte (Los Angeles), Henry C. Forte and Gregory Forte (San
Diego), Brenda Pierce and Preston Pierce (San Diego), Danielle Jackson and
Marley Jackson (New York), and a host of adopted children; Pearl (Ed) Andrews, Larry Wilson, Stephanie Wilson, Vermell Cannie, Cynthia Forsythe, Maretta Frierson, Dr. Mary Cannie, Princess (Daniel) Stewart, Donald Flemister, and many other young people who referred to her as Mother Tate. She also leaves behind her special friends, the 5:30 a.m. Gym Friends, her special friend Jackie, who did her nails, special friend
Sis. Delores Caldwell and former landlord Thomas and residents at 415 D Street,
Chula Vista, CA.
