Christine "Chris" Tatum

February, 1950 – September 4, 2026

Christine "Chris" Tatum, a fierce, determined trailblazer and longtime resident of the Savannah area, passed away early in the morning on September 4, 2026, following a long battle with kidney disease. Chris lived a life defined by grit, hard work, and an absolute refusal to back down from a challenge.

Chris’s path was entirely self-made. She was a student at Savannah High School. She worked hard at numerous local jobs across Savannah before breaking into industry at Great Dane Trailers in their Brazil Indiana location. In the 80s, she found her way into aviation moving back to Tybee Island and the Savannah area and beginning her career at Gulfstream Aerospace, charting a historic 30+ year loyalty there until her retirement. Chris fought hard to make a difference in a heavily male-dominated field, overcoming significant adversity and resistance to change along the way.

She earned her place by becoming the first woman to work as an aircraft mechanic on the G3 final assembly line. She went on to smash further barriers as the first female A&P licensed mechanic at Gulfstream and using those skills earned a promotion into the prestigious Service Center. Chris continued to rise and break the glass ceiling earning multiple promotions and titles over 3 decades. She was their first female CMP Analyst and also the first female Quality Assurance Aircraft Inspector at Gulfstream making a solid reputation for her work.

An absolute stickler for quality and safety and excellence, Chris was assigned to work directly with Gulfstream customers from around the world, including foreign leaders, Fortune 500 companies, Hollywood stars, and famous entertainers, ensuring their aircraft were safe and perfectly maintained. Many women working at Gulfstream today stand on her shoulders without even knowing it.

Chris raised her children as a single mother. She took immense pride in her children's successes and was known to be generous and helpful to extended family and her friends. In her free time, she volunteered with literacy initiatives teaching adults how to read and remained a lifelong advocate for literacy. She also loved to cook, enjoyed exploring local Savannah area restaurants, and spent countless weekends hunting for treasures at thrift shops, garage sales, and yard sales. Even through her long battle with kidney disease, her fierce stubborn spirit never wavered.

Chris is survived by her son, Barry Healan; daughter, Melanie Glisson; sister, Debbie Kyle; grandson, Orion Healan; one brother-in-law Ronnie Clayton; and a multitude of nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to local adult literacy organizations in Chris’s honor.