John Franklin Tatum, Sr.

John Franklin Tatum Senior, a son of the late John M. Tatum and Nannie S. Tatum was born and raised in the Foggy Bottom community of Northwest Washington, D. C.   He was educated in the public schools of the District, and graduated from Armstrong High School.  In 1937, he attended Virginia State University where he studied Industrial Education.

John taught himself to swim as a child by using the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial. Later, he continued to swim at the pool in Francis Jr. High School. In addition to swimming, John also played football, baseball, and basketball.

John, lovingly known as Papa to most, was married August 1, 1940 to the late Pearl Elizabeth Veney. He was a proud husband and the equally proud father of six children; three daughters and three sons.  During this time, he also served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 until 1946. In this service, he taught survival skills in hopes of becoming a Navy Frogman. Though that dream was never realized, he would continue to enjoy swimming for years to come.  With his water ventures on hold, he provided for his family as a Digital Systems Analyst at the Naval Gun Factory - later called the Navy Yard - until his retirement at age 55.  He began his retirement by buying a motor home, which he and Pearl enjoyed for many years with their friends and grandchildren, traveling to campsites around the country.

During his retirement, John remained physically active with sports and recreation. He took up skiing in his seventies, with his brother Bradford. John also returned to his life long hobby of swimming, when he began competitive swimming with the local aquatic group, the DC Water Wizards.  The DC Water Wizards is an aquatic club for seniors who swim as part of the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

John competed in the National Senior Games from 2006 to as recently as 2015; and he is a 9-time medal winner at the Local and National levels.  John was featured in the film, Age of Champions, a documentary featuring mature athletes who still compete well into their golden years. 

While he slowed from swimming competitively, he was still a vibrant and active member of his Woodridge neighborhood. He always played baseball with his sons and their friends as part of the annual Father/Son Baseball Game and Cookout; a part of the Annual Father’s Day event held for 30 years at the Tatum family home.  He was the Father/Host to hundreds of people each year, and the Tatum legacy grew and flourished as a result.  He also continued to host and mentor a group of young men who were lifetime friends of his late sons Rodney and Kevin.

John was Baptized in 1929, becoming a 2^nd generation member of Liberty Baptist Church. His father was a trustee and a member of the Senior Choir. John was the chaplain in the Senior Choir, the Secretary of the Senior Circle and enjoyed singing in the Male Chorus.

His wife Pearl, daughter Marilynn Joann Stanley, son Rodney Keith Tatum, son Kevin Anderson Tatum, son-in – law Barry Stanley, great-grandson Sean Wilkinson, and his nine siblings: Bernard (Teddy) Tatum, Irva Tatum, Sarah Tatum Honesty, Althea Tatum Phillips, Bradford Tatum, Natalie Tatum Warren, Atlas Tatum, Nancy Tatum Bradley, and Craig Tatum preceded him in death.

John is survived by three of his children, Joyce Wilkinson Brown, John Franklin Tatum Jr (Carol) and Krista Tatum Benjamin (Anthony), ten grandchildren - Marilynn Scott, Gaye Wilkinson, Candace Pinn (Greg), Erica Dottin (Howard), Alison Stanley, John Tatum III (JoMika), Mark Tatum (Sunaria), Courtney Benjamin (Casey), Paige Benson(Corey) and Evan Benjamin(Alicyn); 24 great-grandchildren, Kevin Johnson (Lisa), Mia Scott, Gabriel Scott, Tatum Wallace(Tyrone), Michael Ricardo, Wynton Marsalis, Simeon Marsalis, Sydney Pinn, Cameron Pinn, Austin Dottin, Jett Dottin, John Tatum IV, JustinTatum, Jacob Tatum, Jaye Lynn Tatum, Marieke Tatum, Markai Tatum, Sureina Tatum, Camden Fraser, Maisey Fraser, Briana Benjamin, Quentin Benjamin, Anthony Benson, and Vivian Benson; and 5 great-great grandchildren, Tehya Johnson, Alana Johnson, Aiden Johnson, Marilynn Tirado, and Winter Tirado; nephews, nieces, great nephews and nieces, and great-great nephews and nieces; other relatives and many wonderful and dear friends.

Public Viewing 

Service is PRIVATE, yet viewable via New Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church Official Site (newsmyrnambc.org)