A resident and native of Baton Rouge, our beloved sister, aunt, cousin and friend, attorney Chiquita Patrece Tate-Harris, passed away on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009. She was born on Oct. 15, 1975. She attended school in East Baton Rouge until the 11th grade, when she moved to and graduated from high school in Chicago. She graduated from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English, and moved back to Baton Rouge to pursue her juris doctorate degree from Southern University Law Center. She was sworn in as an attorney in October 2004, and began her solo practice concentrating in the field of criminal law in January 2005. Prior to going to law school, she worked as a teacher with the Timbuktu Academy at Southern University and as a legal assistant for Judge Pamela Taylor-Johnson. Attorney Tate was loved and adored by all she met. She fought hard and diligently for her clients. In her short career, she was successful in getting justice for many of her criminal clients and was also successful in getting a half million dollar award in a personal injury case. Her tenacity, brevity and plethora of knowledge will always be remembered by those who were fortunate enough to know her. She touched the lives of so many people. The community has lost a jewel. She was a member of the local chapter of the NAACP, American Bar Association, Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Baton Rouge Bar Association, Louis A. Martinet Legal Society and the Alcohol and Beverage Control Board, where she had been recently elected as assistant chairwoman. She is survived by her husband, Gregory Harris; her father, Oliver "Snowtop" Ruffin; six sisters and brothers, Robin Michelle Tate Stewart and husband Elvin, Danita Tate Joseph and husband Deroy, all of Baton Rouge; Juantonja Tate Richmond and husband Martez, of Waverly Hall, Ga., Jonathan Tate, Joshua Tate and Emerald Tate, all of Baton Rouge; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Also left to cherish her memory are her stepson, Gregory Harris Jr.; mother-in-law, Joyce Henderson; father-in-law, Silver Harris; and brothers-in-law, Jumar Ficklin, Michael Harris and Zell Henderson; and grandmother-in-law, Ollie Ficklin. She was preceded in death by her mother, Catherine Tate; a niece, Diamond Bell; and grandparents, Peter and Myrtis Dangerfield.
She was a victim of domestic violence.
She was a victim of domestic violence.
A resident and native of Baton Rouge, our beloved sister, aunt, cousin and friend, attorney Chiquita Patrece Tate-Harris, passed away on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009. She was born on Oct. 15, 1975. She attended school in East Baton Rouge until the 11th grade, when she moved to and graduated from high school in Chicago. She graduated from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English, and moved back to Baton Rouge to pursue her juris doctorate degree from Southern University Law Center. She was sworn in as an attorney in October 2004, and began her solo practice concentrating in the field of criminal law in January 2005. Prior to going to law school, she worked as a teacher with the Timbuktu Academy at Southern University and as a legal assistant for Judge Pamela Taylor-Johnson. Attorney Tate was loved and adored by all she met. She fought hard and diligently for her clients. In her short career, she was successful in getting justice for many of her criminal clients and was also successful in getting a half million dollar award in a personal injury case. Her tenacity, brevity and plethora of knowledge will always be remembered by those who were fortunate enough to know her. She touched the lives of so many people. The community has lost a jewel. She was a member of the local chapter of the NAACP, American Bar Association, Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Baton Rouge Bar Association, Louis A. Martinet Legal Society and the Alcohol and Beverage Control Board, where she had been recently elected as assistant chairwoman. She is survived by her husband, Gregory Harris; her father, Oliver "Snowtop" Ruffin; six sisters and brothers, Robin Michelle Tate Stewart and husband Elvin, Danita Tate Joseph and husband Deroy, all of Baton Rouge; Juantonja Tate Richmond and husband Martez, of Waverly Hall, Ga., Jonathan Tate, Joshua Tate and Emerald Tate, all of Baton Rouge; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Also left to cherish her memory are her stepson, Gregory Harris Jr.; mother-in-law, Joyce Henderson; father-in-law, Silver Harris; and brothers-in-law, Jumar Ficklin, Michael Harris and Zell Henderson; and grandmother-in-law, Ollie Ficklin. She was preceded in death by her mother, Catherine Tate; a niece, Diamond Bell; and grandparents, Peter and Myrtis Dangerfield.
She was a victim of domestic violence.
She was a victim of domestic violence.
