Thomas Earl Gullatte, Sr., 88, retired Lee County farmer, passed away Dec. 30, 2020, at Bethany House in Auburn. He was born May 15, 1932 to the late George Thomas and Erma Julia Capps Gullatte and was the youngest of 5 children.
Earl loved getting together with family and friends to share stories about the past. His joy was playing with the children and grandchildren. There were many special moments eating watermelon, homemade ice cream, taking hayrides and many gatherings with family, church and friends. He was ordained as a deacon at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Salem, Alabama. He served in the US Army.
Other than his parents, Earl was preceded in death by his three wives, Jamie Jenkins Gullatte, Zelma Keaton Maddox Gullatte, and Margaret Lee Hodge Gullatte, brother, Bruce (Inez Walker) Gullatte, sister, Rhythma Gullatte (Raphael) Barnes, and infant brother, his son, Thomas (Tommy) Earl Gullatte, Jr. (Darlene Zenisek Gullatte Roberts), and niece Pat Barnes (Bob) Harmer.
Earl is survived by his daughter Angela Gullatte (Philip) Shenton of Phenix City, Alabama, step children, Randy Maddox of Powder Springs, Georgia, Anita Maddox Cantrell of Savannah, Georgia, Sherrie Maddox Clark of Springfield, Tennessee, Sharon Hodge Cook of Phenix City, his grandchildren, Samuel Gullatte of Salem, Kathryn Gullatte of Fort Collins, Colorado and Joel Shenton of Phenix City and one great granddaughter Maria Gullatte of Salem. He is also survived by his sister Betty Jean Gullatte (Buddy) Pharris, nieces, Judy Barnes, Linda Gullatte (Charles) Herring, Sandra Gullatte Johnson (Quinton) Horne, Elaine Pharris, Emily Pharris and other family members.
Funeral services were officiated by Richie Ashburn and held in the Chapel of Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika on Jan. 2, 2021 at 2 p.m.
Pallbearers were Philip Shenton, Joel Shenton, Samuel Gullatte, Michael Roberts, Chuck Gilmer and Quinton Horne
Memorial contributions can be sent to:
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
5805 Lee Road 401
Salem, AL 36874