Christopher Robert “Tater” Tatum

Christopher Robert “Tater” Tatum, 24, died Friday, May 20, 2011 in an automobile accident in Dooly County, Georgia.

Chris was a 2004 graduate of Santa Fe High School where he was active in FFA. He received an Associate’s degree in Animal Science from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in Tifton, Ga. in 2010. At the time of his death, he was a student at ABAC working on a Bachelors degree in Diversified Agriculture. While at ABAC, he worked at the University of Georgia's Tifton research dairy and beef cattle farms, was active in the ABAC Cattleman's Association and Kappa Sigma fraternity, and coached the Tift County 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Team.

Survivors include his mother, Vickie Lynn Tatum of Newberry, Fla.; his father, Baxter Cloyd Tatum of Humble, Texas; grandparents, Jim and Lil Tuttle of Sun City Center, Fla. and Kathleen Tatum of Anaheim, Calif.; a brother, Daniel James Tatum; step-brothers Cloyd, Matthew, Scotty, Benjamin, Zachary, and his girlfriend, Randi Walden.

A scholarship fund has been established in Chris’ name by the ABAC Foundation.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Chris Tatum Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Foundation, Inc. ABAC 13, 2802 Moore Highway, Tifton, GA 31793-2601.

A celebration of Chris’ life is being held at the Alachua Women's Club on Main Street, Tuesday, June 7, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.