Curtis Tatum Jr.

Curtis Tatum Jr. was born on September 28, 1946 in Newark, New Jersey to the union of Gertrude and Curtis Tatum Sr.  Later that year the family moved to Roselle, New Jersey.  He was the oldest of three children.

He attended Lincoln Elementary, Pilgrim Middle, and graduated from Roselle High in 1964.

Curtis went on to Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio majoring in Biology and Education.  1970 he began substitute teaching for the Columbus Public Schools In that same year he married Sakena Belai, out of that union they had a son Awad Tatum in 1971.  Curtis began teaching full-time for Columbus City Schools, where he taught science at Berry Middle in SouthEast Columbus.  Later taught at Marion Franklin and Independence High School.

Curtis had many talents, he had a black belt in Shotokan Karate and taught for many years martial arts to anyone willing to learn, he also taught track and karate at Berry Middle.  He owned several businesses, such as the Earing Palace and The Elite Fashion House.  He was a skill carpenter and enjoyed building future in his spare time.  Many knew him as “the Tie man” for his hundreds of selected ties he gave or sold.  He believed a person was known by how the tie they wore.

On April 20, 1984 Curtis married Fannie Thelma Davis and with open arms received Tony and Tonya Willis.  Curtis loved and cared for them as his very own.  1988 Fannie gave birth to a beautiful baby girl Tiara.

Recently, Curtis served as a board member to Renaissance Academy, built a science library, and was assisting in his granddaughter’s karate class.

Curtis Tatum departed this life on Friday, November 24, 2017 at The Ohio State University Hospital at age 71.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Fannie Tatum of 18 years, parents Curtis and Gertrude Tatum, and sibling Margaret Armstrong.  He leaves to cherish his loving memory: his children Awad (Maria) Tatum, Tony Willis, Tonya Willis, and Tiara (Daquan) Osborne, and Sister Shirley Tatum of Roselle, New Jersey, and ten grandchildren, and a host of family and friends.

Visitation 9:00am and Funeral 10:00am Saturday, December 9, 2017 at MARLAN J. GARY FUNERAL HOME, THE CHAPEL OF PEACE EAST 5456 E. Livingston Ave.
Interment at Evergreen Burial Park