Obituaries

With humble respect, Sewell Mortuary in Grantville announces the transition of Willie "Charles" Gates on September 20th, 2023.

A graveside service will be held at 3 PM on September 25th, at Rocky Mount Bethel Baptist Church in Luthersville Ga.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 PM on Sunday, September 24th at the mortuary.

Mr Willie Charles Gates (known by his middle name Charles) was born
November 28, 1962 to the parentage of Mr Roger Lee Gates Sr and Mrs. Elsie
Gene Reeves Gates in Newnan GA. At the time of his birth he was the largest
baby that had ever been born at the Coweta General Hospital weighing in at
11 pounds and 3 ounces. Some family members named him Double Joint
because of his size.

He attended school at Fairmount Elementary, OP Evans and Central High
School in Newnan. After leaving school he worked as a truck driver for
Skinner Furniture Company. Later he worked at the Ford Dealership, Bonnell
and as a custodian at Ruth Hill Elementary School. He also hauled scrap iron
with his father and told tales of adventure tha t occurred during that time.

He considered himself to be a ladies man. He liked to cook and would say
“you needed a little more sage in that dressing.” He left Newnan as a young
man and moved to Atlanta. There he worked as a laborer for a construction
company.

He was baptized in the ocean in Florida by ministers from the Betterway
Ministries as an adult and accepted Christ as his personal saviour. He use to
say “you better stay prayed up”.

When his health started failing him, he returned to Newnan to be with
family. He fought the good fight but the angels came to get him early
Wednesday morning around 12:00 AM and he took flight for a better place.

He was preceded in death by his parents Mr. Roger Lee Gates Sr. and Mrs
Elsie Gene Reeves Gates.

He leaves to cherish his memories three sisters; Deborah Collier (William)
Anniston, AL, Roslyn Gray, Newnan GA, and Louise Dionne Gates, Villa
Rica, GA., two brothers; Roger Lee Gates, Jr. (Jimmylove) Evans, GA and
Martin Kennedy Gates, Savannah, GA. two nieces; Shilisa Bell(Danny)
Newnan, Amaziah Gates (Evans GA) four nephews; Nicholas Collier,
Jacksonville, AL, Roger Lee Gates lll (Melanie) Charleston, South Carolina,
Christopher Gates, Savannah, GA and Frankie Alan Gray Newnan GA, two
great nieces; Naima Gates Charleston South Carolina and Mailee Collier,
Oxford, AL, two great nephews; Roger L Gates IV and Maverick Gates. A
very special God son Mr Berdarius Sherman, and a host of cousins special
family and friends.

Sewell Mortuary is honored to be entrusted with providing end-of-life services to the Gates family.