Thomas LaShawn Tate or “Shawn” as he was fondly called, was born on April 28, 1973 to Tommy Lee Tate and the late Bertha Ellen Coley Tate. He departed this life on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at Duke University Hospital surrounded by his loving family.
Shawn was born and raised in Wayne County, N.C. He attended Meadow Lane Elementary School, Eastern Wayne Junior High and Eastern Wayne Senior High School. He graduated from High School in 1991. He always had a love for tractors and trucks at a very young age and probably said the words “tractor” and “truck” before “mama” and “dada.” Shawn was self-employed and was the owner of ST&T Trucking. He was well known in the community and worked hauling trucks, tractors and other machinery, locally and to other states. Anything involving a truck was Shawn’s passion. He worked all the time but never complained because he enjoyed what he did so much.
Shawn was raised in the church and attended Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church with his family. The last few years, he attended Bible Faith Missionary Baptist Church, pastored by Rev. Jimmy A. Mumford. Shawn was a man of faith and loved the Lord.
Shawn was a loving father, son, brother, nephew, cousin and friend. He was loved by all who knew him and will definitely be missed.
Shawn was preceded in death by his mother, Bertha Ellen Coley Tate, his grandparents and several aunts and uncles.
He leaves to cherish his precious memories his father, Tommy Lee Tate of Goldsboro, N.C.; three children Devonta’ DeShawn Smith of Raleigh, N.C., Tyrus Sterling Thomas-Tate and Tayler Dyanne Thomas-Tate, both of Goldsboro, N.C.; his sister Pamela Tate Ballentine of Raleigh, N.C.; extended brothers Craig Demond Brown of Goldsboro, N.C. and Tavarres Brown of Leland, N.C.; two nieces L. Vané Ballentine and Nateesha D. Ballentine, both of Raleigh, N.C.; three aunts Patricia Ann Newkirk of Washington, D.C., Barbara Ann Horne of Upper Marlboro, MD and Wanda Coley Harris (Michael) of Madison, N.C.; three uncles Morris Lee Coley, David Lee Coley and Winifred Gerald Coley, all of Goldsboro, N.C.; a special aunt Vivian Coley of Goldsboro, N.C.; special cousins Tracy and Evonne Coley of Charlotte, N.C. and Lonnie Coley III of Goldsboro, N.C.; a loving companion Rhonda “Cookie” Hagans of Goldsboro, N.C.; and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends.
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