Mother Estella Tabb

Mother Tabb’s life began on November 17, 1929, in Courtland, Alabama when she was born second after her sister Lula Mary to Joe and Gusella (Dixon) McCullough. She grew up in the Church of God in Christ. At the age of 16, the Lord anointed her to play the piano. She took a Correspondence course from the U.S. School of Music. As a young woman, she became the Church Musician for the State of Alabama jurisdiction. While pursuing her formal education to become a tailor and cosmetologist at A & M University, Mother Tabb met a young minister who had traveled from St. Louis, MO to attend the special weeklong appreciation service held in Huntsville, Alabama for his former pastor.  He stated, “he saw a beautiful golden butter brown young lady playing the piano and the Lord told me, now this is what I sent you to Alabama for.” Two months later on November 21, 1951, they were married. Out of that union came McCullough Samuel “Joey” Tabb, Janice Estella Tabb and Chrystal Viana (Wayne) Tabb-Mack.  They moved to South Bend, IN where she also studied at the Conservatory of Music, Indiana University and Ivy Tech., majoring in Business Administration and Secretarial Science.  

Mother Tabb worked faithfully beside her husband, Bishop Simon S. Tabb, D.D., as Co-Pastor of Grace Tabernacle Church of God in Christ Jesus, where she also held the position General Overseer of the Church organization, and Home & Foreign Missions President. She was a highly talented pianist & soloist, and well known for many songs but one in particular, “This Train.” We thank God for this inspirational woman sent by God who was blessed to be our “First Lady” of the Church.  She is truly said to be an inspiration to those that met her. And, we are honored to share the joy of her anointed dedication as a soloist and pianist, praising, ministering and teaching to lift up Christ.

Mother Tabb is preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Gusella McCullough, her husband, Bishop Simon S. Tabb, D.D., her son McCullough Samuel “Joey” Tabb, her sister Lula Mary Stovall and special cousin Henry Ella James. Mother Tabb leaves to cherish her memory, her two daughters Elder Janice Estella Tabb (Elder Jay Ganger, deceased) of South Bend, IN and Chrystal Viana (Elder Wayne) Mack of South Bend, IN.  She also leaves her three Grandchildren: Shawyn’que (Don) Shankin of Whitelake township, MI, Estella (Patrick) Ngoie of Tallahassee, FL, and Courtney Alexander Mack of St. Louis, MO; her Great Grandchildren, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visitation will be at 11:00 am and the Home Going Celebration at 12:00 noon on Friday, September 20, 2024, at Pentecostal Cathedral Church of God in Christ, 1025 W. Western Ave., South Bend, IN 46601. Telephone 574.232.4253. The Repast will follow after the Internment at Pentecostal Cathedral Mary I Alford Fine Arts Room.

Condolences may be sent to alfordsmortuary@att.net

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