Elder Elvin J. Tatum

Elvin James Tatum, born in Center, TX, July 31, 1957, was the first son of the late Tomey and Cora Lathan Williams. He departed this earthly life and gained his wings on Sunday, February
11, 2024, at the age of 66. The family moved from Center to Turkey, TX where Elvin grew up with his five sisters and eight brothers. He attended public school there. After living in Plainview, Tulia, and Dallas, he moved to Amarillo where he attended Amarillo College and received a degree in truck driving in 1995. He drove from coast to coast and had many stories to tell. He owned his own trucking business for a while, but last worked for Panhandle Express Trucking.

Elvin never met a stranger. He met many lifelong friends, including Vickie Renia, his wife of 28 years whom he introduced to Christ. After a short time of dating, they married on March 31,
1995. They had five children: Talisha, LaTasha, Shameka, Christa, and Tasso. Elvin was a deeply spiritual man who shared God’s love with others. He was not afraid to tell of the goodness of God and would start a conversation in the aisles of the store. If Elvin was not sharing the Word of God, he was reading his Bible. When he said goodbye to the world he was truly sold out to God. Elvin was a faithful member of Holy Trinity COGIC where he served as evangelist and assistant Sunday school Teacher of the adult class. He would often tell the congregation how he was the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, he was an overcomer and would not be overcome. He would walk in victory and not defeat. He would finish with how God loved him some “Elvin James Tatum”.

Elvin was preceded in death by his mother, Cora Williams, his father, Tomey Williams, one sister, Teresa Goodwin and three brothers, Bobbie Williams, Billy Williams, and Junior
Williams. Left to cherish his memory include: his loving wife, Vickie Renia; children, Talisha (Haston) Scott of Arlington, TX, LaTasha (Rome) Wright and Shameka Vinson of Amarillo, TX, Christa
Tatum of Dallas, TX and Tasso Cofer of Fort Worth, TX; four sisters: Hattie (Israel) Belmares of Turkey, TX, Robin (Allen) Savage of Amarillo, TX, Verna “Lil Sis” Johnson and Kathy (Landy)
Likely of the Dallas area; five brothers: Ray Williams of Houston, TX, Tommy Ronnie (Crystal) Williams and Johnny (Chele) Williams of Amarillo, TX, Will (Lynette) Williams and T. W.
Williams of the Dallas area; 10 grandchildren as well as beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
 

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