Gaye Tate Hennis

Ms. Gaye Tate Hennis, age 82, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 27th, 2025, at Duke Raleigh Hospital after her short battle with cancer . She was born June 1, 1943, in Mount Airy, NC., the daughter of Thomas Edward "Tobe" Tate and Helen Smith Tate. She retired from Wake Forest University School of Medicine after a long career in grants administration. Gaye is survived by her lifetime best friend and father of their two children, Thomas Franklin "Tom" Hennis, Jr.; a son, Thomas Todd Hennis of Raleigh, NC; a daughter and son-in-law, Susan Hennis Phillips and Floyd Phillips of Raleigh, NC; one grandson, Thomas Scott Hennis of Raleigh, NC; and three granddaughters, Holly Ashlen Uppena, Anna Kathryn Uppena and Lilly Alexandra Uppena of Raleigh NC. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her twin brother, Edward Ray Tate and her parents-in-law, Thomas Franklin Hennis, Sr. and Lealan Cook Hennis. The family will hold a graveside service at Salem United Methodist Church Cemetery in Mt. Airy on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at 1:00 PM with Rev. Jack Danley officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the SPCA of Wake County.