Billy Ray Tate Obituary

Billy Ray Tate attended South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, TX. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Billy Ray Tate.

Graduation Year	Class of 1973
Date of Passing	Aug 03, 2013
About	Rev. Billy Ray Tate, a loving husband, father, grandfather, minister and friend, went to glory on Saturday, August 3, 2013. Rev. Tate was born December 31, 1954 in Dallas, Texas to Quinton and Doris Tate. Rev. Tate attended grade school at H.S. Thompson Elementary School in Dallas, Texas. There he met his life-long friend and future pastor Rev. Leonard Coleman, Jr. He attended Sarah Zumwalt Middle School. In 1973, he graduated top of his class at South Oak Cliff High School. In high school, Rev. Tate approached football with the same enthusiasm and excellence with which he approached his academics. At the time he graduated, he considered several full academic and athletic scholarships from several schools. Rev. Tate accepted a full athletic scholarship to Baylor University. As a Defensive End, he was part of the football team (Number 80) aptly named the “Miracle on the Brazos.” This team enjoyed an almost perfect season in 1974 and won the Southwest conference that year. His team was the first team from Baylor to go to the Cotton Bowl. He went on to play for Baylor another two years. While he chose to not complete his final year of accounting, he left the school with several friendships and a blooming romance with his future wife, Cynthia Tate. He married Cynthia Tate, the love of his life, on August 15, 1981. To this union 4 children were born: Tiffany Michelle, Stephanie Micheala, Jonathan David, and Justin David. In 1985, Rev. Tate joined the Dallas Area Rapid Transportation (DART) family. For almost 20 years, he transported people throughout Dallas. Throughout his career, he received several awards and recognitions for his exemplar service. However, on his routes, he ministered the gospel to attentive ears, encouraged the downtrodden and befriended several others. Rev. Tate accepted Christ early in life and grew in the Lord. He served faithfully on the deacon board at House of Prayer for All People and then at Mid-Cities Tabernacle. In 1990, he received an Associate Degree in Theology from Cornerstone Theological Seminary. Then, in 1994, Rev. Leonard Coleman, Jr. asked his best friend to undergird him as Assistant Pastor of the church God was calling him to begin, The Church of Revelation (COR). Upon becoming Assistant Pastor, his real assignment began. He became a Sunday school teacher, minister, choir member, evangelist, prayer warrior at the prayer stop, and member of the COR brotherhood. In 2002, he had a massive stroke. While the Lord preserved his life, this stoke led to his early retirement from DART. While limited by disability, his health never prevented him from functioning in the Kingdom or home. He continued being blessed and a blessing until the Lord called him home. For more information or to reach his family, his eldest daughter (Tiffany Tate) can be reached at 972-207-8072.