Some things: Lita Mae Tate
Violetta Mae “Lita” Tate didn't have an easy childhood. She was put up for adoption on the Southside a few months after she was born.
Her mother, Jenny Jones, younger sister to FP Jones, was terrified of having a child at sixteen. FP was away in the army at the time and had no idea she was even pregnant, let alone gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.
She grew up in the foster system with a nice family until she was nine. It was then that her foster father fell ill and they couldn't maintain her growing pains as well as father's illness.
It was then that Pop Tate stepped in to foster her and eventually, after all the paperwork and legal confusion, she was adopted at age twelve.
What Lita didn't know was that Pop had tried to convince Jenny to stay in the child’s life, but her father had threatened to disown her if she stayed or kept the baby. So, Jenny skipped town, leaving baby Lita on the doorstep of Riverdale General Hospital.
Pop made it his mission to watch the girl grow up, to make sure she was cared for as she should be. He felt responsible in some way, though he knew the decision was entirely Jenny's.
When he heard of Lita's foster father falling ill, he raised her as his own. He kept her on the Southside, not wanting to sever the friendships and support she'd had there.
She was a model student and luckily never got trapped within the Ghoulie and Serpent affiliation or territory war.
She had made friends with everyone and because of who Pop Tate is, she was respected no questions asked.
She left for art school when she was seventeen, full scholarship. She had found a passion for the fine arts early on. Painting, drawing, illustration anything she could make she did. More often than not, her hands were stained from paints or markers.
After eight years (and two college degrees), she came back to Riverdale with a plan. There was a space for sale on the main drag of the Southside.
She opened a neutral zone, much like Pop's. MaeDay Designs by Violetta Tate. Walk-ins welcome, appointments appreciated. A legitimate tattoo shop.
All welcome. She didn't care if you were a Serpent or Ghoulie, as long as you weren't a total jackass.
Pop raised her to have a heart of gold, but a voice that didn't back down.
Lita would do anything to make Pop proud. He was after all, not just Pop Tate, but her dad.