Dorothy Jo Bates

She is preceded in death by her Father and Mother, William Arthur Russell and Beulah L. Prickett Russell, 2 Infant Sisters, Margaret and Barbara Russell, her Husband, Hubert H. Bates.

She is survived by her Daughter, Deborah Alston/Herman of Acworth, GA and Son, Russell Bates/Kimberly of Emerson, GA; Niece, Theresa Brownlow McDonald of Union City, GA, whom she loved as a Daughter; 4-Granchildren, Jeremy Alston/Sarah of Adairsville, GA, Jennifer Allen/James of Aurora, CO, Gretchen Haselden/Alex of Cartersville, GA, and Hannah McCorry/Thomas of Kennesaw, GA; 5-Great-Grandchildren, Isa, Jamey, Anna, Micaiah, and Gibson; Brother, Richard B. Russell/Emily of Cartersville, GA; 2-Sisters, Elizabeth Chandler/J. B. of Union City, GA, Janice Dabbs of Smithville, MS; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Dorothy was of the Baptist faith, having received Jesus Christ as her Savior as a young girl.

She was a graduate of Massey Business College in Cobb County and worked many years for Marietta Board of Lights and Water and eventually retired from the Cobb County Board of Education.

About our Mother

Our Mother had many interests and hobbies through the years. She and Daddy loved to garden and she dearly loved to can and preserve the bounty from their garden in which God blessed them. She was an exceptional cook and many people enjoyed home cooked meals that she prepared. One of her specialties that was savored by most was her mouthwatering home-made buttermilk biscuits. She always made these in an antique wooden dough bowl that was handed down from her paternal Grandmother.

Mother and Daddy raised their own chickens and pigs for several years and she loved living the country lifestyle. She was also an avid reader and enjoyed crocheting and quilting in her earlier years.

She enjoyed watching baseball/softball especially when my brother, Russell, was playing. She also attended many of her Granddaughters softball games over the years.

Mother loved her family very much. Some of her favorite times were at family reunions where her sister, Janice, would play the piano as all the family gathered around singing old hymns. She talked about those precious times of sharing love and fellowship with us often.

In recent years some of her most joyous times were those spent with and talking to her Grandchildren. Her Grandson, Jeremy, would take her to lunch or just sit and visit with her. She joked about losing her lunch date when Jeremy and Sarah were about to get married. In the last few months, she looked so forward to Jeremy bringing Gibson to visit with her, she would simply beam with joy when she was around that baby.

Her first Granddaughter, Jennifer, would call her from Colorado, and tell her of the enormous amounts of snow that had fallen. She told everybody about those calls and how she was so happy when she could talk to her Great-Grandsons, Isa and Jamey.

Gretchen, her granddaughter, visited several times a week over the last year to help with her needs. I would often get a call from mother not long after Gretchen would leave, asking when she would be back. Mother cherished those visits. There were times when Gretchen could just sit, chat and update Mother on her Great-Grandchildren. Those visits were cherished. There were also many times that the children were with her and Mother was totally amazed at how much energy they had. Gretchen, you will never know what a blessing you have been to Mother.

Hannah, her youngest granddaughter, brought a lot of joy to the room just a week or so ago when she had Mother bursting with laughter while she was trying to describe to the girls how terrible the pureed food was that they had been bringing her in the nursing home. Mother always loved her and told stories for years about how she ‘got on the phone with that Dr.’ when Hannah was a baby and ‘MADE’ him meet her back at the hospital when she was very sick ‘to do something for her’.

Mother was raised during the depression and she learned very young that life's journey was not always going to be easy. She went through many trials and losses during her life. One of the hardest was when Daddy passed away in his early fifties, only two months after being diagnosed with cancer. Before she was able to try to come to grips with his diagnoses, he had left her. Life changed as she knew it, and she never really had the time to grieve. Although the weight of the loss could have easily broken her spirit, she stood tall and strong. She worked hard and supported herself even though defeat came knocking at her door many times. Mother refused to open that door and stayed strong through prayer, hard work and determination. While our love for Mother had always been strong, it was during that time that I realized how much I greatly admired her.

Our Mother was without question one of the strongest people we have ever known. Some may call it spunk, stubbornness, determination or fortitude, but even in her weakest moments, especially in the last month, weeks and days, I saw a strength that I can only hope to have one day.

We will dearly miss our Mother, however, we are at peace knowing that she is now with Jesus Christ who gave her strength. She is finally resting in His loving arms. While we grieve the loss of having our Mother with us, we will Celebrate Her Home!!!!! One day to join her there!

You will forever be loved, Mother!!!!

Visitation will be Tuesday, August 23rd from 5:00pm - 8:00pm and Funeral Services will be Wednesday, August 24th at 2:00pm at Winkenhofer Funeral Home, Internment to follow adjacent to the funeral home in the Garden of the Last Supper at Pineridge Memorial Park.

Winkenhofer Funeral Home 2950 North Cobb Parkway Kennesaw, GA 30152 770-428-3197

Arrangements under the direction of Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home, Kennesaw, GA.