Frances D. Tate, Tennessee River Watercolor Collection

Take a closer look at these works through our virtual tour .

Special thanks to our sponsor Mainstream Financial Group.

Frances D. Tate, local artist, grew up in Decatur, Alabama and attended the local public schools. She earned a degree in psychology from Athens State College. A dedicated community leader and civic advocate, she worked in the telecommunications industry for over 35 years. After retiring, Frances was approached to become an equipment auditor for independent telephone companies throughout the United States. During her assignments, she was enlightened on how various communities preserved and promoted their heritage and legacies. After leaving that job, she later pursued her passion for art, determined to revive her community’s legacy in Old Town. Many of the dwellings had fallen victim to Urban Renewal and neglect and she was inspired to revitalize Decatur, Alabama, through her paintings one structure at a time.

This splendid Collection features exceptional renderings of yesterday’s historic places and the Old Town community. Each colorful painting is representative of the artist’s unique signature, utilizing the area’s most valuable resource, the Tennessee River to create her “Tennessee River Water Watercolor Collection,” symbolic of the flow and unity of the community.