Herschel Tate Jr.

Mr. Herschel Tate Jr. is called home. He departed this life September 30, 2021. A kind soft spoken man. “Herschel Jr.” as called by his family was born: January 16, 1945 at Baroness Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, TN to Vera M. Tate and Herschel Tate Sr. Herschel was the oldest of seven children. He was educated in the Chattanooga Public School System, attending Frank H Trotter Elementary and Howard High School. He worked in many capacities as a young man and a great love for music. His passion for music resulted in him mastering the talent of playing drums. At the age of 17, he joined the musical singing group “The Spidels”. They recorded two songs with the most popular being “Lovely One”. He went on to play drums for a numerous of groups and was a performing member of the group “The Five Royals”. His talent took him far as being a backup drummer for James Brown and Bobby Blue Bland, as well as performing locally in Nashville and Chattanooga. Herschel was a Vietnam Veteran of the US Army. Upon discharge from the army, he made Nashville his home. He became a chef level cook and worked in the food industry. After years of residing in his new place of home, he met and married Cynthia Comer. Herschel accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at a young age and renewed the acceptance as an adult. He was a member of Love Cathedral Ministries. He turned from secular music to gospel, and was a member of “The Chimes of Canaan” gospel group. He was preceded in death by Herschel Tate Sr. (father) Vera M. Tate (mother) Robert Lee Tate (brother) Shirley D. Tate (Askew) (sister) Janet Tate-McConnell (sister) Kenneth G. McConnell (nephew). Ronald Gunn (brother in law). He is survived by loving wife Cynthia Tate, daughter Lakesha Whitelow, son Triandos Comer, sisters Givenddlyn Williams (Jessie) of Houston, TX, Jacqueline Tate of Hollywood, CA, and Sandra Gunn of Las Vegas, NV, nephew Demetris Tyron Tate (Bertha) of Chattanooga, TN. A host of friends, cousins, niecies, nephews and grandchildren who will mourn his passing. Special thanks to the chimes of Canaan and friend Doug (Karen)