Carol "Scotti" Tatum

Carol Scott Westerman Tatum, known to most as “Scotti,” was born on August 21, 1948 to Carol and Bill Westerman in Alexandria, Virginia. At 15, while on a church trip, she met 16-year-old Ronald Roy Tatum from Hopewell, the love of her life. They kept in touch, even after she graduated high school and attended Anderson College in South Carolina to get her Associate’s Degree. Scotti and Ron were married on Christmas Eve of 1967, after which Scotti worked while Ron finished his engineering degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

Following Ron’s graduation in 1969 and a short time living in Maryland, Scotti and Ron moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina, where they spent the next almost forty years building their home, family, and community. Scotti devoted herself to her husband Ron and her children, Rob and Lucy. Scotti and Ron were partners in every endeavor, including supporting Rob and Lucy in their interests and activities. They also enjoyed vacationing with family, including “beach week” every summer at Holden Beach, often with extended family including Scotti’s aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Scotti was an exemplary volunteer in the community, always looking for an opportunity to serve. She volunteered in her children’s schools, not only as a leader in the PTA and band boosters, but also in less visible ways, working with students who needed help learning to read or starting new programs to help kids have a special experience. She was also a very active member of the Junior League of Fayetteville, where she served as President in 1993-94.

An avid cross-stitcher, Scotti also enjoyed baking, including Christmas cookies and fudge. Scotti & Ron hosted a Christmas open house each year when they lived in Fayetteville and decorated the house from corner to corner for the holiday. Their door was always open for friends and family to stop by, especially at Christmastime.

Scotti was a lifelong believer in Christ and was an involved member of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville for forty years. Scotti and Ron taught the 11th Grade Sunday School class, chaperoned youth trips, sang in the choir, and participated in numerous other programs and activities at the church, spending almost every Sunday and Wednesday (and often other days of the week!) at church. They particularly enjoyed being a part of the Singing Christmas Tree each year.

After Ron’s retirement, they moved to Raleigh to be closer to their children and grandchildren, quickly joining Hayes Barton Baptist Church, where they sang in the choir, helped organize music for the music library, and joined the Koinonia Sunday

School class. Scotti also participated in a women’s bible study on Tuesday mornings. In retirement, Scotti and Ron enjoyed traveling and spending time with their grandchildren.

Scotti was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Tyler Furman, who died shortly after birth. She is survived by her husband, Ron, her son, Rob Tatum and wife Mindy, her daughter, Lucy Austin and husband Richard, and grandchildren Kayleigh, Andrew, Abigail, and James.

A funeral service to celebrate the life of Scotti Tatum will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at Hayes Barton Baptist Church on 1800 Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. The family will receive friends at the church following the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following organizations:

Hearts & Hands for Haiti - https://heartsandhandsforhaiti.org/give

Heaven Sent Ministries - https://www.hsminc.org/donate/

Services are in the care of Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC 27605.