Shirley Ann Bates

Mrs. Shirley Ann Bates of Gainesville, Georgia peacefully passed away March 31, 2022. She was 86.

 A private family service will be held at a later date at the First Baptist Church Columbarium. 

Mrs. Bates was a member of First Baptist Church in Gainesville, Georgia for over 50 years and enjoyed many Bible studies along with her Sunday School class, Joy.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Jack, and is survived by their four children, Jackie, John (Lisa Ann), Parker (Dana), and Laurie (Bo Weber): seven grandchildren (Justin, Alex, Ashley, Reece, Reagan, Crayton, and Jackson (Duke)); and two great-grandchildren.

The first of her family to attend college, Shirley received an associates degree from Georgia College in Milledgeville, Ga where she was a member of the girl’s basketball team. She later met her husband Jack to whom she was married for 64 years while working in Atlanta. While supporting her husband though medical school, the couple and their growing family lived in Augusta and Rome GA, Columbia, SC and Raleigh, NC for Jack to complete his medical training before settling in Gainesville. Shirley was an ever present and stabilizing force for her family during these times.

Also known as a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, one of Shirley’s greatest joy in life was cooking and feeding those around her. She especially loved feeding the family pets, one most beloved was an exceptionally round bulldog named Nuppy. Jack, being a psychiatrist, was constantly amazed at her ability to seemingly bypass an animals natural instinct to stop eating. Shirley chronically produced exceedingly fluffy, deliriously happy and furiously loyal pets for the family. Though the years, fatty liver disease was a chronic and familiar health issue for her pets that was not openly discussed.

Along with her pets, Shirley’s family was everything to her. She was a constant and loving presence available whenever the need arose for her adult children who feel abundantly blessed to have had her unwavering love and wisdom guiding them through life.

Online condolences can be made at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com. Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel.