GRAVESIDE SERVICE
.Ms. Velvette Tate Fort was born on Sunday, June 1, 1952, to the late Harrison Tate, Sr., and Cornellia Smith Tate in Greenville, South Carolina.
At the tender age of 10, Velvette gave her life to Christ, and was baptized at Springfield Baptist Church. She was a 50 year Gold Star member who served faithfully in many ministries over the years; most notably serving as the Girl Scout Daisy and Brownie Leader of Troop 151, and singing in The Voices of Faith choir, which she named. In 2019, Velvette was recognized as the only living original member of The Voices of Faith still attending the church.
Velvette was educated in the Greenville County School System, graduating with honors from Sterling High School in 1970. She went on to further her education, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Knoxville College in 1974, and a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Development from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in 1980. Her passion for education led her to a prominent teaching career as an elementary teacher with the Greenville County School District for 35 years.
Velvette was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated through the Gamma Eta chapter at Knoxville College in the Spring of 1973. She remained financially active for 46 years, obtaining both Silver Star and Life Membership status. She was a member of the Epsilon Tau Omega chapter in Greenville until her passing.
Later in life, Velvette became ill, but she did not let that stop her. She bore her illness with faith in God, and never complained. She departed this life on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at St. Francis Hospital-Downtown.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Douglas Carl Tate.
Left to carry on her legacy are her daughter, Jervelle Fort of the home; two brothers, Harrison Tate, Jr., of Philadelphia, PA, and Jimmie (Ruthie) Tate of Beaufort, SC; a sister-in-law, Mildred Tate of Greenville, SC; and a host of other relatives and friends to include a very devoted cousin, Janice Williams, and two very devoted friends, Mary Edwards and Beverly Byrd.