Phyllis and Erik and I wanted to create this site as a way for us all to share memories of James. During the time that he was sick, so many friends and family members expressed their feelings about what a great person Dad was. Please share any thoughts and stories (especially funny ones!) by adding a comment to this post. If you would like to share photographs, please email me. Send me your name and email address and I can add you to a list of people who can post an entry, instead of just adding a comment. Thanks again for all the love and support you have shown during this difficult time.
Love,
Phyllis, Erik and Cindy
6 comments:
James was on of my dearest friends. I remember shooting basketball at church with him on Thursday nights and he was given the nickname of "tater". When he would start to hit that outside shot of his we would call him "hot tater". But the best thing about James for me is he was a friend. He was so humble and full of service to others. He always stood in the background so much that he went unnoticed and I think he meant it that way. He loved many people and that love was returned. A very talent man in so many ways. I miss him dearly.
He was a like a second father to me as a youth and became a very good friend. He went out of his way to give me rides to church anytime I needed one as a youth. He was a great seminary teacher and leader. He taught me a lot of things and was such a great example to me. He always cared about people and had a great laugh. I played basketball with him a lot at church, we called him "Set shot beautiful" as he use burn the nets on some nights. He was involved in the blessing of all 3 of my sons which meant a lot to me for him to drive to High Point to stand with me. When we first met and got to know him, he got the nickname "Tater Tot". He was a great humble person with a great testimony.
I was a kid when Br. Tate joined the Church. Not long afterward, he was my seminary teacher. I'm sure we weren't much fun to deal with every Tuesday night, but that was where I learned the gospel and to love the scriptures. I now teach seminary for a living.
Thanks, Br. Tate. And best wishes to all his family.
Rarely has a man said so much while saying so little. He was my seminary teacher for two years and the father of my best friend. He had a gift for teaching truth. In his own quiet, masterful way, he handled four unruly teenage boys and taught us principles that impacted us at that moment and through the years that would follow. I am ever grateful for his patience and kindness. And I hope that one day I will live up to his example of a husband and a father. He will always hold a special place in my life.
Uncle Junior, that's what I call him, was a sweetheart of a man! I remember the Sunday lunches at Grandma Daisy's, he and Aunt Phylis just lived next door. It was so cool to walk next door and see all of the artwork Uncle Junior was working on. He was always working on a project. One of my favorite memories was one night years ago, I was out to dinner with my friends. I was admiring some artwork on the wall, when suddenly I realized it was one of Uncle Junior's! I was proudly announcing that my uncle had painted the picture! I will miss him, and I know that Cindy, Erik and Aunt Phylis will have a tough time, but I'm sure Uncle Junior is watching over them.
Let me tell you about my little brother. Junior as the family calls him, James as others know him. He has always been humble, kind hearted and considerate of others. I never heard him talk bad about anyone. As a youth and growing into adulthood he was never in trouble.
Junior wanted me to go on vacation with him and Phyllis to Topsail Beach, N.C. It was the week of their 41 yrs. Wedding anniversary. Which was Wednesday, June,25. I am so blessed to have been able to spend a week with Junior and Phyllis. I learned so much about him in that one week. I could see and feel the love in my heart that he had for his wife and children. He loved the LORD and his church family.
Junior had a great sense of humor. We kidded each other a lot that week. I will cherish those moments for the rest of my life.I thank GOD for having a LITTLE BROTHER LIKE JUNIOR.
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