SP4 Kinnon Ray Tatum

In Loving Memory of God’s Special Gift Kinnon Ray Tatum, son of the late Cleo and Levis Tatum, was born on December 27, 1947 in Center, Texas. Kinnon Ray made his spiritual transition on April 27, 2024 at 4:25 PM from the peaceful and tranquil Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center in Wilmington, North Carolina. Kinnon attended Timpson North High, where he received the honor of being the valedictorian. He then went on to attend and graduate from Prairie View A & M, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology. Kinnon was drafted into the Army, where he served his required two years as an Army Medic. Once he got out, he moved to Fayetteville where he met and married Portia (Ford). Kinnon also started working at Sears where he spent the next 35 years as one of their best employees, year after year. He remained there until Sears closed its doors in December of 2018. Kinnon was loved and adored by everyone who had ever come in contact with him. His naturally humble spirit, along with his unconditional love was demonstrated through how he sacrificed to provide his family. Everything they needed and desired. Not only did he love his wife and children, but he adored his six grandchildren and his nine great grandchildren. Everyone who knew Kinnon, knew that he cooked for his family on Tuesdays. It became an honor and a privilege to have experienced a Tuesday meal at his house. From his steaks, chicken, wings, and fried chicken to his infamous chow chow, Kinnon expressed his love through his food. To know Kinnon was to know the love of a selfless person who found joy in making others happy. Kinnon also found joy in watching fast cars, listening to good music and going to the beach. One thing that his family can rest assured is that Kinnon had accepted Christ as his savior. This was confirmed when his son, Kinnon, II, found a pocket Bible in his wallet along with a pocket sized college degree. The two things that he kept in his wallet showed us what mattered to him was the Lord and his education. Kinnon was preceded in death by his stepdaughter, Michelle Featherson; daughter, Nikole Renee Tatum; three brothers, Clifford Tatum, Sr, Elton Tatum and Lovis Tatum; three sisters, Ethalia (Tatum) Casey, Evelyn Joyce (Tatum) Hightower and Bobby Jean (Tatum) Stanberry. He leaves to cherish his memories: Portia (Ford) Tatum of Fayetteville, NC; one daughter, Angela Tatum Malloy of Fayetteville, NC; one son, Kinnon Ray Tatum II of Raleigh, NC; six grandchildren, Nekiala Johnson of Locust Grove, GA, Taylor Johnson, Jasmine Johnson, Freddie Johnson the third, Isabella Malloy all of Fayetteville, NC and Kinnon Tatum III of Charlotte, NC; nine great-grandchildren, Tristan Johnson of Locust Grove, GA, Mackenzie Causey, Keegan Causey, Kaylen Causey, Juliano Sanchez, Jr. and Nori Sanchez all of Fayetteville, NC, Sage Riddick and Bleu Riddick of Fayetteville, NC; two brothers, Autry Lee Tatum (Cynthia) of Orange, TX and Eugene Tatum of Port Arthur, TX; two brothers-in-law, Thomas Stanberry of East liberty, TX and Terry Ford (Phyllis) of Fayetteville, NC; lifelong friends, Richard and Arleen Best of Spring Lake, NC and Jeff and Kathy Crabb of Fayetteville, NC; and a loving host of nieces, nephews and friends.

SP4 Kinnon Ray Tatum

December 27, 1947 - April 27, 2024