John Larry "Tex' Tatum

John Larry “Tex” Tatum, 86, of Valdosta, passed away on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at Fellowship Home in Brooks County. He was born on November 1, 1934 in Thomasville, Georgia to the late John Leslie and Nola Warren Tatum. He attended Valdosta City Schools and played football under Wright Bazemore for four years and played basketball and baseball. Upon graduating high school, Larry enlisted in the United States Navy and served his country honorably. He attended Valdosta State College and received a Business Administration degree. He married Louise “Lulu” Hamilton in March of 1956. After graduating from Valdosta State, he began work with Cotton State as an insurance adjuster. Later, he was promoted to the position of Branch Manager. He eventually went out on his own and began Tatum Insurance Agency which he was owner/operator for 50 years. His son, Lee, took over many operations of the business when Larry retired and now his grandsons, Jasen and Raymond, continue the family tradition. In his retirement, he and Lulu loved to travel in their motor home to the mountains and also to the beach. In his spare time, he loved to fish, golf, hunt and spend time with his family. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Becky Anthony Sunday school class. He was a past member of the Elks Lodge, the Valdosta Country Club, and a member of the American Legion Post 13. He was a faithful Christian man and was part of the Gideon organization.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Louise “Lulu” Hamilton Tatum of Valdosta; son and daughter-in-law, Lee Shannon and Livia Tatum; a daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and John Stephenson, and daughter, Luanne Tatum Dees all of Valdosta; grandchildren and their spouses, Sarah and Dr. Bowen Beall of LaGrange, Georgia, Raymond Tatum of Valdosta, Jasen and Adriana Tatum of Valdosta, Trevor Tatum Dees of Valdosta, John Mark and Casey Stephenson of Prattville, Alabama, and Tatum Stephenson of Valdosta; great-grandchildren, Bo, Ben, and Banks Beall, John Lee Tatum, and Josiah and Noa Jane Stephenson.
A memorial service for John Larry “Tex” Tatum will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at 11 am in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane.