Josephine Tate

Our beloved Josephine Tate was born January 24, 1926 to the late Annie L. Ashton and the late Joseph M. Newman in Bryn Mawr PA. At an early age she moved to VA where she was raised by her grandmother the late Catherine Tate. She joined Jerusalem Baptist Church at an early age.

At the age of 26 she returned back to Bryn Mawr, PA with her mom to find a job to support her family. She was an active member of Saints Memorial Baptist Church where the pastor is Pastor Michael A. Stitt. She belonged to the Usher board, Women’s Fellowship Lystra, and Sunday school ministries. She loved going to church and she loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When she was no longer able to usher she sat at the back of the church and made sure everyone got a church program. If someone didn’t reach for one she tapped them and gave them one.

Josephine found full time employment at Bryn Mawr Hospital in the dietary department. She was there for 38 years and retired at the age of 65. She loved her job and was filled with such excitement when she talked about it. Josephine loved making and giving out her famous yeast rolls and making apple cobbler, sweet potato pie and green tomato pickled. She loved playing solitaire cards and working her puzzle books. Her famous saying when she won a game in solitaire was “I got a game.” Even though she loved doing many things nothing filled her more than spending time with her family.

In the midst of her transitioning she was still sharp as a tack. She still laughed with her family as if nothing was wrong. The Wednesday before her passing her grandchildren asked about her rolls and she gave them the recipe and told them all about how to make them. On that Thursday she worked she worked two full pages in her puzzle book. She lived a great life and loved to laugh. Every morning one of 4 of her great grands would come get her dress and she would laugh and joke with them.

Josephine went on to join her Lord and Savior on Friday October 13, 2023 peacefully at the home of her daughter. She is preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Jesse A. Tate, John R. Newman, and Joseph H. Newman; three sisters, Eloise Newman Ragland, Claire A. Newman Shaw, and Irene Carroll; three grandchildren, Elvis and Bridget Usual and Teresa Day; and one great great-grandchild, Nathaniel Hall.

Josephine leaves to cherish her precious memories two daughters, Juanita Usual Nutt and Mary Day; one son, Michael Tate; one sister, Elsie Wooten; seven grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren; twenty-five great great-grandchildren; her wonderful neighbor and friend, Gina Bezdziecki; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and church family.

Funeral Services for Josephine Tate, mother of Juanita Usual Nutt will be held on Saturday, October 28 at 1PM in the sanctuary of the Jerusalem Baptist Church, 2404 Nomini Hall Road, Hague, Virginia.

Interment will follow in the Jerusalem Baptist Church Cemetery.

Remains may be viewed from 4PM until 6PM on Friday, October 27 in the chapel of the WELDON-FISHER FUNERAL HOME and from 11AM until service time on Saturday, October 28 at Jerusalem Baptist Church.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Josephine Tate, please visit our floral store.