A funeral service for Mrs. Velma D. Tatum, age 86, of Beckville, TX, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, at Pine Grove Baptist Church, with Rev. K.L. Palmer officiating under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Holland's Quarters Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Mrs. Tatum passed away on Sunday morning, Sept. 9, 2012, in Longview.

Velma D. Tatum was born on May 6, 1926, in Panola County, TX, to George and Fannie Rankin Willis. She accepted Christ at an early age and joined Pine Grove Baptist Church. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. Mrs. Tatum loved to sing and cook for everyone. She retired from C.I.S.D. after many years as a food service employee and a bus driver. After retirement, Velma and Edgar built and opened a restaurant in Fair Play. Her happiness was contagious, smile was beautiful, and strength will be greatly missed. Mrs. Tatum was preceded in death by her husband, Edgar Tatum, Sr.; one son, Benny Ray Tatum; and two daughters, Velma Ree Green and Jean Evelyn Blankenship.

Mrs. Tatum is survived by two daughters, Nelva Jean Hicks and husband Ralph of Beckville and Barbara Taylor and husband James of Cedar Hill; three sons, Edgar Tatum Jr. and Kenneth Wayne Tatum both of Fair Play and Tommy D. Tatum and wife Ferene of Lakeport; and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Serving as pallbearers will be Fred Blankenship, Bobby Lynn Blankenship, Rodney Hicks, Chad Hicks, Moseacke Tatum, Tommy Tatum, Kaleb Burton, and Osaze Idumwonyi.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.