Mr. Gregory James Gates

GATES, Mr. Gregory James - Age 69 passed away Sunday, July 5, 2020 at Willowbrook Manor. Mr. Gates will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed Friday, July 10, 2020 from 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Mr. Gregory James Gates a.k.a. “Huncho, Gator” was born May 10, 1951 in Flint, Michigan, the son of James L. and Ruth (Tipton) Gates. He was a resident of Flint and graduated from Flint Northwestern High School, “Class of 1970.” Gregory was employed at Hurley Medical Center in 1970 and then employed at Buick Motor Company and AC Delphi, divisions of General Motors Corporation in 1973, retiring in 2001. His hobbies were boxing in the Golden Gloves, singing, dancing and being a D.J., his favorite quote was “I could have been a star, but I naw… I had to babysit.” Gregory’s love interests were being a “Ladies Man” and was an avid baseball fan. He loved to dress and was a slick talker. Mr. Gregory James Gates leaves to cherish his memory: 3 sons, Reginald Suggs, Brian Burnett and Christopher (Keisha) Gates; 2 grandchildren, Christopher Gates Jr. and Jaylen Gates; mother, Ruth (Tipton) Gates, all of Flint; 4 sisters, Deborah (Gates) Hughley of San Antonio, TX, Kathleen “Kitty” Sanders, Tammy (Gates) Boddie-Bey and Sheila Gates, all of Flint; brother, Fredrick L. Gates of San Antonio, TX; 10 nieces; 7 nephews; aunt, Katherine Tipton; special brother-in-law, Charlie Harvey Jr. of Flint; a host of cousins including special cousins, Lucille Brown and James Wardlow, both of Flint; mothers of his children, Alsie Simpson and Adine Suggs; god-mother, Nora O’dell; a host of other relatives and friends including special friends, Arnold “Ike” Chatmon of Akron, OH and William (June) Long. Mr. Gates was preceded in death by his father, James L. Gates; grandparents, Newt and Ezra (Wynne) Tipton, George and Gertrude Mabry; brother, Dennis K. Gates; numerous aunts and uncles; brothers-in-law, Arthur Boddie-Bey, Willie Sanders Jr. and Carnell Hughley. The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Peddireddy, Hurley Medical Center, Willowbrook Manor, caregivers, Sha’Quaytia Wright, Lady Ann Sanders, Shaquetta Keels and Finus Harvey.

Mr. Gregory James Gates

May 10, 1951 - July 5, 2020