Lennis Ailene Shorter

Ms. Lennis Ailene Harrison Tatum Gray Shorter, age 95, formally of Ararat Virginia passed away Sunday, May 3, 2020 at Whitestone Nursing Facility, in Greensboro, North Carolina.  Ms. Shorter was born, April 10, 1925 in Patrick County Virginia, to the late Mr. Monroe and Effie Thompson Harrison.  Her parents passed away at a young age, initiating her to make her home with her uncle, Taylor Thompson and her grandmother, Elizabeth Tuggle Thompson which preceded her in death.  Lennis attended Red Bank High School in Claudville, Virginia.  She then married Garland Edwin Tatum in which they had two sons; Larry Edwin Tatum of Collinsville, Virginia and Ricky Lane Tatum, of Harrison, Tennessee.  Ricky passed away untimely on November 16, 2004. She is survived by one son, Larry Tatum Sr., one granddaughter Bethany Tatum; one daughter-in-law Dinah Hodges Tatum of Harrison, Tennessee; three grandsons, Jeffery Tatum of Fieldale Virginia, Michael Tatum, wife Kristy of  Ararat, VA and Larry Edwin Tatum, Jr (deceased), Great-grandchildren; Savannah and Samantha Tatum.  Lennis attended School of Nursing in Danville Virginia, after receiving her license; she worked for Dr. Kennel and Dr. Mageh in Stuart Virginia.  She and her two sons moved to Martinsville Virginia where she worked for both of the Memorial Hospitals there, one on Starling Avenue and then the one on Commonwealth Drive.  Lennis also worked a total of 18 years for the American Red Cross.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her second husband; Robert L Gray Jr. in 1994, Gray was employed by Dupont for 25 years.  She was then married to Mr. Dewey Shorter, a deputy with Henry County Sheriff’s office, who passed away November 12, 2006.  Lennis was an animal lover and ask for donation to the Randolph County SPCA at 300 W. Bailey Street Asheboro, NC. 27203.  Also other donations can be made to the American Cancer Fund 7027 Albert Pick Rd, Greensboro, NC 27409.  Due to the limitations of numbers for public gatherings at this time (COVID-19), a private graveside service will be held at the family homeplace in Ararat, Virginia.  Moody Funeral Services of Mount Airy is serving the Family of Lennis Shorter.