C. Richard Tate Jr.

Clarence Richard Tate, Jr. (Richard) was born on August 23, 1934 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Following a brief illness, he passed away peacefully at Duke University Hospital on the morning of Saturday, December 2, 2023, surrounded by his children and beloved family.

Richard is survived by four children: Buck M. Tate of Florida, Lisa A. Tate of High Point, Sarah Warren (Richard) of Charlotte, and Beth Hondros (Nick) of Charlotte; five grandchildren, Lindsey Tate, Jason Tate, Richard M. Warren III, John B. Warren (Casey), and Maria Élise Hondros; two great-grandchildren; and his brothers-in-law Herbert and Robert Smith. Richard was predeceased by his loving wife Dorothy S. Tate (“Dot”) and his devoted parents Clarence and Lois Tate.

As a child, Richard grew up in South Greensboro. He graduated from Greensboro Senior High School in 1952. Thereafter, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served for three years and attained the rank of Sergeant. The Marine Corps heavily influenced his life and its future trajectory, and Richard strived to uphold their values every day for the rest of his life. While serving as a Marine, he married Dot, his childhood sweetheart since 7th grade. Thanks to the GI Bill, and the support and hard work of his wife, he then attended and graduated Wake Forest University and Wake Forest University School of Law. Two of their four children were born while they lived in Wake Forest University Student Housing, and he dutifully helped take care of two young children while he attended classes and Dot worked full-time.

Richard considered it his great honor to practice law in High Point and Guilford County for over fifty years. He was a trial attorney, and took great pride in helping his clients to the very best of his ability. He had a tremendous passion for justice, and worked zealously and tirelessly to advocate for it, whether that be for his client’s positions, social justice or political issues. To his great joy, many of his clients became his lifelong friends and extended family members.

Richard was a true Southerner and a “Yellow Dog Democrat.” He was a voracious reader and a learned scholar of history. He was a member of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church for over fifty years, and served as an Elder there. He was extremely active in the North Carolina and Guilford County Democratic Parties, holding various leadership positions within both. He served two terms on the Guilford County Board of Elections, and served as its Chairman. He was a member of the High Point Jaycees.

In his capacity as an attorney, he was a Bar Councilor for the 18th Judicial District for two terms, which he considered a great honor. He was the recipient of multiple professional awards and recognitions throughout his career, including being regularly designated as a Super Lawyer and Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Family Law and Criminal Law. He was one of the earliest fellows of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers, and was designated one of “The Meanest Toughest Divorce Lawyers in the Triad” from Golden Triad Magazine, from which he took particular pleasure. He was one of the earliest members of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (now North Carolina Advocates for Justice) and served on its Board of Trustees and held various officer positions. He also served as President of the High Point Bar Association.

Richard was a devoted son and lived by and faithfully repeated the lessons his parents taught him in childhood to his own children and grandchildren. He attributed his success in life to the love and support of his wife, Dot, who was his equal partner in every sense of the word. She worked side by side with him at their office for most all of his career, even after having four children. They happily ate lunch together most every day of their working years and it was rare to see Richard anywhere around town without Dot.

Richard’s final and most important goal was to outlive Dot after she became afflicted with Alzheimer’s so that he could care for her at home and ensure that she was comfortable. Once Dot became ill, Richard happily undertook all aspects of her daily care, and did so with great love and tenderness. Even in the worst stages of her illness, when Dot knew hardly no one else, she always knew Richard and this is a testament to their great love and his incredible caretaking. Richard was equally devoted in every way to his children and grandchildren, and took great pride in their accomplishments in life and in spending time with them whenever possible.

In 2010, Richard became a double-lung transplant recipient and he was cared for until the end of his life by the Duke University Lung Transplant Team. He survived great odds and lived for thirteen additional years after receiving his transplants, which allowed him to care for Dot during her illness and meet and know his youngest grandchild, among many other cherished memories during these years. Richard was an eternal optimist and focused on the positive in life. He regularly counted his blessings and answered almost every person who asked: “how are you” with his trademark response of “I’m better than I deserve.” He meant that statement to the core of his being.

Richard had numerous life-long friends whom he treasured and enjoyed. He loved to debate politics and was a master story-teller (such story-telling preferably accompanied by a bourbon and water) and was so thankful for all of his friends who enriched his life immeasurably. He had an outgoing, gregarious personality and never met a stranger.

Richard will be remembered for his incredible love and devotion to his life partner Dot, with whom he spent 67 married years and whom he loved since the age of 12; his extraordinary love and devotion to his family; and his passionate and tireless pursuit of justice. In the last hours of his life, Richard reminded his children that their mother was the finest woman he had ever known, and regaled them with courtroom war stories while enjoying a few sips of his cherished bourbon.

The family would like to thank Jay Dunbar, Jerry Allen, Teresa Murphy and Bobby Boyan, Richard’s lifelong friends who spent time with him in his final years and helped him in any way possible; and Dr. Lake Morrison, Dr. Stephanie Norfolk, Dr Jamie Todd and the entire Duke Lung transplant team, who along with his lung donors, gifted Richard with 13 additional years of life, which he treasured and made the most of every day.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 16 at 11:00 a.m. at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church in High Point. The family will receive friends at a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Lung Transplant Director's Fund, Duke Health Development and Alumni Affairs, ATTN: Jillian Ream, Box 90581, Durham, NC 27708 or visit https://www.gifts.duke.edu/dukehealth/ or Alzheimer’s Research Initiative, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Records, P.O. Box 571021, Winston Salem, NC 27157-1021.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sechrestdavisphillipsavenue.com for the Tate family.