Estella "Sugar" Tate

Estella "Sugar" Tate, born September 23, 1948, in Little Rock, Arkansas to Sammie Ella Gray (Mother) and O'Neil Gray Sr. (Father).

Estella was educated at Jones High School in North Little Rock and eventually trained at Job Corp. in Portland, Maine. As a young woman, Estella traveled to many places working as a model. This lead her to settle in Newark, New Jersey where she had two boys, Robert Gray, and Alvin Gray. While raising her sons, she met Markeety Tate and the four of them moved to California where she and Markeety later married in 1983. 

While working as a dietician and short-order cook, Estella kept her family in church, as a faithful servant of God. After several years of marriage, there was an amicable split between her and Markeety. Estella continued as a strong mother to her sons and enjoyed many years as a grandmother to her six grandchildren and grand niece. 

Estella later retired to Las Vegas, Nevada where she attended Unity Baptist Church. Rev. Willie Lowery Jr was pastor. 

She is preceded in death by her (mother) Sammie Ella Gray, (father) O'Neil Gray Sr, (stepfather) Frank Garner Sr, (brother) O'Neil Gray Jr, (brother) Louis Gray, (sister) JoAnn Glin, Del'Von Morrow (grandson).

She leaves to cherish her memory, (sisters) Lois White of Chicago, Rose Gray of Arkansas, Sarah Garner, Teresa Nard, Wyona Massey (Eugene) all of Kansas, (brothers) Roosevelt Terry Garner of Chicago, Excell Gray (Joyce) of Arkansas, Rufus Gray, Frank Garner Jr, Alvin Garner (Tanya), Lawrence Garner, and James Garner all of Kansas. Two sons, Robert Gray Sr (Felicia) of Texas, Alvin Gray Sr (Latrenda) of California, five grandchildren; Robert Gray Jr of California, Leah Gray of Texas, Alvin Gray Jr, Brenay Gray, and Del'Qwan Morrow all of California and grand-niece; Danielle Brown of Texas. Three great-grandchildren, Delayja Morrow, Rayvon Morrow, and Ace'yon Gray, all of California, one great-grand niece Brielle Doze of Texas, and a host of relatives, church members, and friends.