Teresa Gates

Ms. Teresa Gates (Ms. T) was born July 8, 1959, to the late Sammie Gates Jr, and Jannie Gates in
Harris County, Georgia.
At age 16, Teresa joined Ebenezer Baptist Church. After graduating from Troup High School, she
moved to New York. While in New York, she went to technical school, completed training, and
began her career as a nurse’s assistant. She also worked at Begelman Office Supply and Electronics
Company as Office Manager. When Begelman’s closed she began working as a caregiver for the
elderly in their homes.
Teresa was known as a fun-loving person, who had no filter. She had a knack for telling people
exactly how she felt about anything. Friends and loved ones described her as loving, caring, and
extremely honest. One nickname given to her was “mouth almighty.”
Her favorite pastimes were going to the casino, playing bingo, and watching television; especially
scary, action, and crime genres. She also liked reality shows, and children’s cooking shows.
On December 11, 2022, at 6:33pm, she entered eternal rest to her heavenly home from the
Wakefield Campus of the Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, Elvin and Cora
Mae Ogletree; paternal grandparents, Sammie and Annie Kate Gates; Aunts: Martha Ann Cotton,
Daisy Crenshaw, Sammie Kate Culpepper, Thelma Dickerson, Eunice McGee, Eula Mae Ransom;
Uncles: Robert Cotton Sr, James Clarence Gates, George Henry Ransom Sr, Lee Wortham and Lewis
Wortham Sr.
She leaves behind three children: Lawrence Elliott Gates; Bronx, New York; Samantha Lashaun
Gates; Charleston, South Carolina, and Mercedes Delet (Tyrone) Kelly, Lexington, SC; Four
grandchildren: Sydney Oshe Walker, Aniyah Marie Johnson, Vashawn Damarion Kelly, and Grayson
Lee Elliott Fulton; brothers: Chester (Bonnie) Gates, LaGrange, Georgia; Tommy Lee Sledge,
LaGrange, GA; Tyrone (Annette) Gates, Sylacauga, AL; sister: Yvette (Broderick) Heard, Auburn,
AL; Aunts: Barbara Wortham, Catherine Wortham, and Virginia Williams (Billy) all of Pine Mountain,
GA; long term partner, Aron J. Donaldson, Jamaica, NY; a very special brother, Willie Perry;
Philadelphia, PA; Godmother: Ms. Mary Hayden, New York, NY; very special friend, Mary Payne,
Augusta, Georgia, and a host of cousins, nephews, nieces, other relatives, and friends whom she
loved deeply.
In lieu of a funeral service, the immediate family will have a cremation in New York, NY at
Manhattan Funeral Service. The remains will be kept with immediate family.
Condolences/cards can be emailed or mailed to:

Lawrence Gates larrygates127@gmail.com
Samantha Gates sgates212@gmail.com
Mercedes Kelly mercedesdgates@gmail.com

Yvette Heard
545 Heritage Court
Auburn, AL 36830

The immediate family will have a private memorial service in New York.
Words of comfort and memories can be shared on the website at
https://www.manhattanfuneralservice.com

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