Sonja Louise (Rice) Tate

Mrs. Sonja Tate, age 87, of Sulphur Springs formerly of Pittsburg, passed away on Friday, August 15, 2025 in Sulphur Springs surrounded by her family. She was born February 22, 1938 in Dallas, Texas to William C. and Dorothy Holt Rice.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Pittsburg and was retired from Contel Corporation. She was a member of many clubs, Pioneer Club of Pittsburg, The Republican Women of Texas, Texas Federation of Women’s Club and GFWC which were clubs that were nationwide. She served many terms as President, along with terms of Vice President and Treasurer.

She is survived by her children, William “Bill” Pepper and his wife Pam; daughter, Deborah Humbert Nugent and husband Kyle, and Glenn Tate; grandchildren, Chuck Pepper, Jana Corbitt and husband Brennan, Jeffery Pepper, Jason Humbert, Kristopher Pepper; great-grandchildren, Lylah Humbert and Easton Corbitt; sister, Alice Poole and husband Danny; and many extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by both of her husband’s, Charles Lawson Pepper, and Ben Tate; both of her parents, William and Dorothy Rice; and her brother, Jimmy Rice.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, August 23, 2025 at the Erman Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Pittsburg with Bro. Kyle Smith officiating, interment will follow at Crossroads Cemetery in Camp County. Those serving as pallbearers will be, Jason Humbert, Kyle Nugent, Kris Pepper, and Bill Pepper. There will be a visitation held before the service beginning at 10:00 A.M. at the funeral home.

Donations in her memory are welcome and can be made to Choice Hospice of Sulphur Springs, 601 Airport Road Suite 120, Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482, or First Baptist Church of Pittsburg, 300 Jefferson Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686 or www.fbcpittsburg.org

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