Earl Gates Jr.

1934 - 2020

Earl Gates Jr. was born on June 21, 1934 to Gladys Partlow and Earl Gates, Sr. in Frayser, Tennessee.  He was the oldest of three boys.

Earl accepted Jesus Christ at an early age as his Lord and Savior at Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend E.V. McGhee.

In July 1952, he enlisted and served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War and received an Honorable Discharge.  When he returned to Memphis, TN, he married the love of his life.

On July 13, 1957, he was united in Holy Matrimony to Thelma Pickens Gates.  To this union five children were born.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years: Thelma P. Gates, three children: Debra Elaine Gates, Sharon Gates Jones, Ivorie Viretta Gates; granddaughter: Carla Denise Morgan; mother: Gladys Partlow, father: Earl Gates Sr.; step-father: Ivory Partlow; two brothers: Leroy Gates and Rochester Gates.

 

Earl worked for Fischer Lime and Cement for several years.  He later worked and retired from the Regional Medical Center of Memphis.  After retiring he began to work for E.H. Ford Mortuary Services until his death.

Earl joined Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Reverend Wardell Johnson and remained a faithful member as an Usher, under the present Pastor, Dr. Kent Hall.

He leaves to cherish his memories one daughter, Cynthia D. Morgan (Carlos) of Atlanta, George, two sons: Bishop Everett Gates (Kateena) of Clermont, Florida, reverend Michael Smith (Monica) of Memphis, TN; fourteen grandchildren: Ebony Jones of Atlanta, GA, Jazmane Brown (Sanchez) of New Orleans, LA, Ashley Jiminez (Ishmael) of Philadelphia, PA, Cutrena Morgan of Atlanta, GA, Nikia Echols (Maurice) of Washington, DC, Alexis Gates, Kendra Gates and Everett Emmanuel Gates all of Clermont, FL, Waneka Lane (Stanley) of Marks, MS, Tiffany Wilson (Leon), Clordell Warner, Michael Julian, Madison Smith and Mekhi Smith all of Memphis, TN; 15 great grandchildren: one sister: Mary Bogan of Memphis, TN; one sister-in-law: Nevada Gates of Memphis, TN; a special cousin: Dorothy Booth of Memphis, TN and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other special friends, family and church members.

The GATES have opened

Even though we mourn, we rejoice over the life you lived.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

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