Annielee Hardee Tate

AnnieLee Hardee Tate, age 99, of Lithia, Florida and Blairsville, Georgia passed away Saturday, May 7, 2022.  She was born March 15, 1923 in Seattle, WA to Lucius Augustus and Enid (Broward) Hardee.  She married Charles Tate in Sebring, Florida in 1942.

Following the War, she supported the football career her husband championed for 50 years. That career took her large family from Miami to Atlanta and New Orleans. Charlie’s retirement launched her career in Real Estate. Her love of people and commitment to creating home led to her excellent success in Real Estate. The dream catcher helped Charlie build and created their mountain dream home in Morganton, GA. In 1981.  AnnieLee was licensed in five states and retired in 2008 as the oldest member of her local Board of Realtors.

Civic minded and varied in talents she was promoted to represent the Women’s Club of Coral Cables in the Mrs. Florida Pageant. She won the state title in 1956 and competed in the Mrs. America Pageant in 1957. It is no surprise that she won the Miss Congeniality Title.

AnnieLee over the span of 99 years, was blessed with time to purse her love of the arts. “Use your hands for pretty” meant getting to work creating through painting, sewing, and gardening.  Mother excelled in what she put her enormous energy too.

In widowhood, she turned her mountain home into a Bed and Breakfast, long before AirBnB. Pillows and Pancakes sustained her ongoing need for family and friends. Camp Sunshine lives on in the hearts and minds of grandchildren, grand nieces and nephews because she opened her home for family camp in the summers. This summer experience for her grandchildren and created strong bonds of family for another generation. Maison Charmonette became the gathering place for holidays through the years, and even rite of passage for graduating grandchildren.

AnnieLee is survived by her Children – Kathy Russell (Randy) of Chapel Hill, NC; Susie Morris (John) of Valrico, FL; Charlie Tate (Debbie) of Winter Haven, FL; Richard Tate of Lakeland, FL; Robert Tate (Cheryl) of Lithia, FL; Brother-in-law – Bill Perry of Nashville, GA; 17 Grandchildren; 33 Great Grandchildren; and 1 Great Great Grandchild.  She is preceded in death by her Husband – Charles Tate; Daughter – Connie Perry; Siblings – Enid, L.A., Randolph, Douglas, Patricia, and Barbara Jean.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 12 Noon with family receiving friends beginning at 11:00 AM at the Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home with interment following in Pinecrest Cemetery.

Please use the link below to watch the service via Zoom.  Please be sure to MUTE you device during the service.
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Arrangements entrusted to:
Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home
4001 Sebring Parkway
Sebring, FL 33870
Online condolences may be left at:
www.stephensonnelsonfh.com