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Celebrating the life of the Reverend Dr. Norman Adkins Tate, Jr.
WHEREAS, the Reverend Dr. Norman Adkins Tate, Jr., an inspirational spiritual leader who helped Reston residents grow in faith as the longtime pastor of the Heritage Fellowship Church, died on January 10, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Tate grew up in Chicago, Illinois, where he attended public schools and began to cultivate his deep and abiding faith; he originally worked as a law-enforcement officer in Washington, D.C., then answered the call to the ministry and pursued theological education; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Tate earned a bachelor's degree from Washington Bible College in Maryland, master's degrees from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and a doctorate from United Theological Seminary in Ohio; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Tate served within the Peninsula-Delaware Conference of the United Methodist Church, pastoring small, rural congregations as a supply minister; he was later called to serve as a chaplain at the former Lorton Correctional Complex, where he provided hope, encouragement, and spiritual guidance to inmates; and
WHEREAS, in 1995, Reverend Tate settled in Reston to serve as pastor of Heritage Fellowship Church; he provided a clear vision for Bible-focused leadership and was committed to serving the wider community through a variety of outreach programs; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Tate preached with humor and warmth, grounding his sermons with lessons that were applicable to everyday life; he developed a range of ministries to ensure that congregants of all ages and backgrounds could stay engaged in church life; and
WHEREAS, under Reverend Tate's leadership, Heritage Fellowship Church provided support to the families of incarcerated individuals and helped them reintegrate into society after release; the church's annual holiday gift program originally focused on children with an incarcerated parent, but has since expanded to serve other families in need throughout the community; and
WHEREAS, under Reverend Tate's leadership, Heritage Fellowship Church founded the Heritage Fellowship Bible Institute and the Heritage Fellowship Church Christian Academy, a private school that served children in kindergarten through eighth grade, and established popular boys' and girls' summer camps that promoted academic achievement, Christian values, and mentorship opportunities; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Tate worked with leadership at United Christian Parish and Trinity Presbyterian Church to create Works Sunday, an annual event that brought together congregations of different faiths for service projects in Reston and Herndon every August for many years; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Tate supported the establishment of the Heritage Fellowship Church softball and basketball teams and promoted himself as a tough competitor who could be called upon to turn the tide during close matches; he was also an avid bowler, who played on several championship-winning bowling teams; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Tate's greatest joy in life was his beloved family, and he relished every opportunity to make lasting memories over family meals or support his children and grandchildren in every endeavor; he imparted to them his compassion, humility, kindness, and belief that every person deserves to be treated with dignity, patience, and grace; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Tate will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his devoted wife, Joyce; his children, Norman III, Kevin, Indya, Keith, and Keisha, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Reverend Dr. Norman Adkins Tate, Jr.; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Reverend Dr. Norman Adkins Tate, Jr., as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for his memory.