Mr. Willie Lee Gates

GATES, Mr. Willie Lee - Age 65, passed away Saturday, February 27, 2016 at his residence. Family hour 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 5, 2016 from Guiding Light/Adams Memorial COGIC, G-5230 Detroit Street, with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Supt. Victor B. Adams, Sr. officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Mr. Gates will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home and may be viewed from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Friday. Mr. Willie Lee Gates was born April 7, 1950 in Minter, Mississippi, the son of Mr. & Mrs. Bernandrew and Emma Lee (Thompson) Gates. He was a long time resident on Jacque St. in Flint, Michigan. Willie was a hard working man. He dedicated over 30 years working at General Motors, retiring in 2008. Willie was a loving husband, father, grandfather and a great friend. He was always willing to help when and where ever he was needed. Willie loved watching sports on TV, mostly the Detroit Pistons. If he wasn't in the house watching TV he would spend hours fishing or tending to his yard. Willie took great pride in maintaining his grass, tending to his flowers, and his bushes were always trimmed to perfection. Mr. Willie Lee Gates leaves to cherish his loving wife of over 15 years, Shirley Gates of Flint; 2 sons, Timothy Lee and James Jamal Gates; 2 step-children, Kimberly Johnson and Terry Forward; grandchildren. Kamani Johnson, Terrall Wells, Tyrick Gates-McGinnis and Terry Forward, Jr.; 5 sisters, Dorothy (Alonzo) Harris, Diana (Mangle) Causey, Emma (Earl) McCaster, Jackie Harris all of Elkhart, IN, and Mary Alice (Donald) Tate of South Bend, IN; 5 brothers, Louis Charles (Bessie) Gates, Henry Lee (Angie) Gates, Willie Joe Gates, Willie Walter (Erma) Gates and Jimmy (Delores) Gates all of Elkhart, IN; a host of other relatives and friends, including special friends, Eddie McGinnis and Gladys Johnson. Mr. Gates was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother, Eliza Scott; sister, Mrytis Gates; step-sister, Minnie Scott; 2 brothers, Clarence Earl and James L. Gates; and 4 sisters-in-law, Savannah, Carol Sue, Bessie and Annie Gates. The family would like to express special thanks to Pastor Victor B. Adams and the Adams Memorial C.O.G.I.C. family as well as all of our extended family and close friends who have stood by us during our time of bereavement.

Mr. Willie Lee Gates

April 7, 1950 - February 27, 2016