Funeral services will be Saturday for the Rev. Willie Tate, longtime pastor of Elgin’s Progessive Baptist Church, who is being remembered as a humble, thoughtful man who would help anyone having trouble paying the rent, keeping the utilities on or putting food on the table.
“He helped so many people in this community,” said Elgin City Councilwoman Tish Powell, who joined Progressive Baptist when she moved to Elgin in 1999. “He just very quietly helped them and didn’t look for fanfare.”
Tate died unexpectedly Monday at age 79.
“I always appreciated his humility and the compassion he has for people,” Powell said. “He was a good listener. A lot of folks said he was quiet, but you can’t listen if you’re talking all the time. He would always give you good, sound advice.”
The loss is immeasurable to his family, nephew Chris Holling said.
“It was very sudden and unexpected and very painful (for us),” he said. “We’re navigating through this with prayer and leaning on faith and the community.
“He loved the community and loved the Lord. He was a very faithful and God-fearing individual. He walked the walk and talked the talk,” Holling said.
Tate, born Nov. 10, 1943, married his childhood sweetheart, Patricia, 57 years ago.
In addition to leading the church for 37 years, he worked for the city of Elgin for 31 years and served as chaplain for the Elgin Mental Health Center, president of the African American Christian Alliance and a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin Board.
He established the Rev. and Mrs. Willie L. Tate Scholarship, which is awarded through the United Black Scholarship Committee.
“I hope that people keep his memory alive through that scholarship and contribute to it or do good things within the community because that’s what he was all about,” Holling said.
In 2021, the city of Elgin celebrated Tate’s role in the community by erecting an honorary street sign bearing his name on Ann Street, the same block on which Progressive Baptist is located. It was one of many honors he received from organizations over the years.
“He was so humble. He never did anything for the accolades,” said Holling, who said his uncle was appreciative of the recognition.
He credits Tate with helping him get through college and being a good role model.
“I’ll always remember him having a smile on his face,” he said.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Laird Funeral Home, 310 S. State St., Elgin, and 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Second Baptist Church of Elgin, 1280 Summit St.
A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday following visitation. Burial will be at River Valley Memorial Gardens in West Dundee.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
