Minerva Dockery Tatum

Minerva Estelle Dockery Tatum was born in 1933 in Duncanville, AL to Gillie and Flana Dockery. She married John Wesley Tatum in 1953. She is survived by her son, George Tatum (Susan) and daughters, Dawn Mitchell (Scott), Bethany Brown, former son-in-law, Joe Brown. She had 8 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Dot Dockery, Katie Dockery and Bonnie Dockery.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at Memory Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Todd Burkhalter officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

She was a dedicated member of Liberty Baptist Church, where her husband served as pastor, for nearly 60 years and Coaling Baptist Church for over 20 years.

As an avid gardener, she cultivated beautiful flowers and delicious vegetables to share with friends and family. She enjoyed feeding her birds, especially cardinals. She read her bible daily, sang in the choir, and loved to attend Christian Harmony shaped note singings.

Her specialty dishes were chicken dumplings and caramel cake. However, the citizens of Coaling will always cherish her famous popcorn balls, shared annually on Halloween.

Most of all she poured her life and love into raising her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and lots of community children along the way. No one left her home without a full belly.

If you would like to honor her life and legacy, the family asks for donations to the American Diabetes Association or your local church.

Honorary pallbearers are Pat and Johnny Cooley, Connie Samuels, Tammy Meaney, members of Liberty Baptist Church, Charlotte Montgomery and the Senior Ladies Sunday School Class of Coaling Baptist Church, and the staff of Pro Health Hospice.

Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers: Ben Mitchell, Wesley Tatum, Chad Roberts, Daniel Cooley, Trent Roberts, Brandon Cash, Rick Bonds, Canyon Bonds, and Ryder Bonds.

Proverbs 31:28 "Her children rise up and call her blessed."