GREENSBORO BAR ASSOCIATION
MEMORIAL RESOLUTION
HONORING
CHARLES MURRAY TATE, SR.
OCTOBER 15, 2015
BE IT RESOLVED by the Greensboro Bar Association Inc. at its regularly
scheduled meeting on Thursday, October 15th, 2015 that:
WHEREAS, on May 6, 2015, the Greensboro Bar Association lost a
member of the highest integrity and character with the passing of Charles Murray
Tate, Sr., after his courageous seven year battle with cancer; and
WHEREAS, the Association desires to memorialize and reflect upon his
exceptional life and legal career, and, therefore, the minutes shall reflect as follows:
Charles Murray Tate, Sr. was born on February 1, 1943, to Murray Evans
Tate and Etoile Kirkman Tate in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Charles attended Lindley Elementary and Lindley Jr High and graduated
from Greensboro Senior High School in 1961. He attended the University of North
Carolina, where he obtained his degree in Political Science in 1965. While at UNC,
he was active in the Air Force ROTC Detachment. His senior year, Charles was the
Group Commander over Carolina’s entire Air Force ROTC. He was also a member
of two national honorary military societies: Arnold Air Society and the jointservice Scabbard and Blade, serving as President of the local chapter.
Charles obtained his Juris Doctor degree in 1968 from the UNC School of
Law. After law school, Charles entered the Air Force where he was on the staff of
the Judge Advocate General and later, Captain Tate was selected to be a military
judge presiding over many military trials.
Charles returned to Greensboro in 1972 and began his private legal practice
with the firm of Dees Johnson Tart Giles and Tedder, where he practiced with a
former President of this Association, Julius Dees, Jr. who also had been a neighbor
of his, on Mayflower Drive, when Charles was growing up. After the retirement of
his longtime partners Julius Dees, H.M. “Mac” Giles, Jr. and Charles Tedder, he
continued his practice with the renamed firm and partners at Tate Gaylord Lucas
Purdom and Workman, LLP, retiring in December, 2010.
Charles was always the consummate gentleman and a person of excellent
judgment. He always knew the right way to live and practice law and he quietly
performed in an impeccable and admirable manner. His gentlemanly demeanor was
genuine and sincere. For years, he was the managing partner of the firm and
performed with the utmost professionalism, competence and diligence. Yet, he also
enjoyed annual firm retreats which always seemed to include an excellent golf
course at such sites as The Greenbrier, The Homestead, Sea Island, High Hampton
Inn near Cashiers, Eseeola Lodge in Linville and others.
Charles practiced primarily in the areas of civil litigation, business matters
and estates. He was adept at dealing with shareholder and business disputes, as well
as thorny estate issues. His quiet manner instilled confidence in his clients that he
could deal with any adversity that they faced.
Starmount Presbyterian Church played an integral part in Charles’ life. He
met Connie Waynick there. They met at a junior high school youth group there,
they were married there, their children Chuck and Kirk, were baptized there, and
some of their closest friends are members there. Also, Charles served as an Elder
and Deacon there for several years. Charles and Connie were married 49+ years and
would have celebrated 50 years of marriage in August.
In his spare time he enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing golf, and was an avid
reader. He was very fond of his Uncle Joe Tate, with whom he hunted quail for
more than 20 years. He also enjoyed duck hunting with his college friends, and
later in life with his son, Kirk. Each fall, Charles would plan a family beach trip to
the Outer Banks so he could enjoy hours of surf fishing and spend time with his
grandchildren. He was a member of Sedgefield Country Club for 40 years, and
served on the Board of Directors for several years, including 3 terms as President.
His favorite times on the golf course were the Parent Child club tournaments in
which he played with sons Chuck and Kirk, and his weekend golf games with his
close friends.
Charles had a distinguished legal career spanning over 40 years and also
performed outstanding service to his church and to the Greensboro community. He
led an exemplary life of integrity and always maintained the highest ethical
standards, being an inspiration by his example.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Greensboro Bar
Association, Inc., in this duly assembled meeting of its members, does hereby adopt
this Resolution to honor and memorialize the life and works of our colleague
Charles Murray Tate, Sr., and directs that this Resolution be made a part of the
official records of the Association and that a true copy hereof shall be delivered to
Charles’ family in token of the esteem, high regard, and enduring affection in which
he was held by his friends and colleagues of the Bar.
Adopted this 15th day of October, 2015.
Afi S. Johnson-Parris, President
Greensboro Bar Association, Inc.
Presented by T.M. “Mark” Gaylord, Jr.