Mrs. Dora L. Parks Gates was born March 5, 1923 in Meriwether County Georgia, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Simon and Emma Parks. Mrs. Gates departed this life on Friday January 22, 2016.

Mrs. Gates joined Mt Pilgrim Baptist Church at a very early age where she continued to be a servant until she unable to serve.

She was preceded in death by her husband Tom Watson Gates Sr. (1957); brothers, Enoch Parks, Albert Parks, J. C. Parks; and sisters, Sally Ashford, Annie P. Ransom, Elmira Thrash, Mary Briscoe.

She leaves to cherish her memory one son, Tom W. Gates Jr.; her daughters, Mrs. Dora M. Watkins (widowed) Atlanta, GA, Mrs. Myra Lightfoot (widowed) Union City GA, Mrs. Emma L. Henry (Odis) Atlanta, GA, Mrs. Ella M. Gates (Charles) College Park, GA, Tommie L. Gates Hogansville, GA, Annie D. Colton (Hulit) Atlanta, GA; Twelve Grandchildren, twenty four great grand children and eight great-great-grand children; a host of nieces, nephews cousins and friends; Special Niece, Birdie L Bray Flint, Michigan; Special Nephew Simon Reeves Greenville, Ga.