Loretta Anne Tate

Loretta ”Anne” Tate , 87, of Tidepoint a Vi Community in Hilton Head SC, passed away peacefully while under Crescent Hospice care in Hilton Head Hospital, SC.  She was born on January 23,1938 in Greenville SC hospital.  Her parents were Catherine Virginia Watson Tate and Charles Kenneth Tate, now deceased.

After graduating from Traveler’s Rest High School in 1955, Anne completed her nursing program at MUSC in Charleston SC and then worked in the operating room at a suburban hospital.  Anne joined the Air Force Nurse Corps (USAF NC) in 1970 and served as an operating room nurse at Keesler AFB Biloxi Mississippi.  While there Anne was the only Air Force nurse selected to serve on the Defense Medical Operations team for astronauts Skylab mission at Cape Kennedy Florida. Anne was deployed to Clark AB Philippines as an operating room nurse during the Viet Nam War, where she actively cared for casualties and conducted MEDCAP 1973 humanitarian missions to remote areas.

Following an honorable discharge from the USAF NC as a Captain, Anne graduated cum laude from Texas Lutheran University with a BA in psychology 1976 and continued on to obtain a Master’s in psychology at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio Texas.  She also studied Acupuncture in Austin Texas and in Washington DC.  Unfortunately, while in her last year the program terminated, and she was not able to graduate. This was a big disappointment for her desire was to provide the underprivileged with acupuncture treatments. Anne was a strong advocate for complementary medicine.

Anne engaged in a variety of successful professional careers and helped many people throughout her lifetime. A best friend and mental health cohort described Anne as “an exceptionally kindhearted, brilliant, amazing person who always cared about other people.”   Anne had a wonderful sense of humor that many close family, friends, and acquaintances enjoyed even to the end. She gave her all to any endeavor.

Besides OR and mental health nursing as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and counselor, Anne implemented a special stress/anger management program in a Maryland maximum security prison. She appreciated the commitment and behavioral changes of the prisoners. In the business world Anne won the highest awards for selling disability and long-term care insurance.  Anne enjoyed working as a CNS on an acute psych unit that included committed maximum security prisoners.  She was instrumental in making changes during the team staffing meetings that improved patient care at the San Antonio State Hospital Drug/alcohol addiction program (1970’s) and at Springfield State Hospital acute unit (2000’s).  Her recidivism rates were the lowest of all the team members. While living in the Columbia Maryland area she also worked home health in Virginia and DC.  Anne enjoyed working in an inner-city Baltimore day program where she upgraded their standards of care.  Anne retired in Sun City SC in 2010 and moved to Tidepoint independent living in 2021.  She loved living in a “tree house” here looking at the beautiful magnolias.

Anne was a beloved daughter, niece, cousin, and best friend. She loved all animals, especially her pet cats and dogs. She enjoyed cooking, plants, gardening, landscape designing, playing cards /table games, meditation/music, exercise/cycling when able.  Anne was an avid reader, loved vet and court TV, and visiting the local casinos for R & R.  She designed her Aster Fields gardens and received the 2015 Sun City Avant Gardeners Garden of Distinction Award.

Anne is survived by many dear family and friends including her best friend Pat and  sweet dog Maya, Hilton Head SC, Morris Green half-brother, and wife Shirley Traveler’s Rest SC, Miriam cousin and husband Dick Edwards, Williamsburg Virginia, Charles Tate cousin,  Traveler’s Rest SC, Elaine Adams cousin  Atlanta, and Linda Armstrong cousin Traveler’s Rest SC, Donnie and Linda Watson cousin Traveler’s Rest SC, and other cousins.

A  Funeral mass will be held at Holy Family Catholic church 24 Pope Ave Hilton Head Island SC 29928 on Wed June 11, 2025 at 11 AM with private celebration of life reception to follow at Tide point.

A military funeral will be scheduled for Ft Sam Houston cemetery in San Antonio Texas date to be scheduled in coordination with Saul’s funeral home Hilton Head Island SC.

In lieu of flowers please donate to one of the following:

Crescent Hospice

10 Buckingham Plantation Drive

Bluffton, SC 29910

Hilton Head Humane Society

10 Humaine Way

Hilton Head Island, SC

Hilton Head Humane Association
P.O. Box 21790, Hilton Head Island SC 29925
Web: http://www.hhhumane.org/?page_id=603

Crescent Hospice
10 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Suite A, Bluffton SC 29910