Louette Bass Burkes

Louette was born in Pavo, Georgia to the late Joel and Lucille Barnard Bass. She attended Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. She spent most of her time active in her local deaf community.

Louette was a mom who treasured her children and embraced every moment with them. She especially loved her role as Mamaw. She always had words of encouragement, wisdom, and sometimes comfort, kept us in line, taught us the “school of hard knocks” and gave us something to pass down to our children. Everyone always knew where you stood with her. All who loved her dearly will never forget her tenacity, wit, charm, grace and undying love and caring for them. She had a vivacious personality and always made people around her smile with her amazing laugh and wagging of her tongue when she was excited.

She will be sorely missed and survived by her children: Steve Hancock (Dixie), Bobby Hancock, Richard Dowling, Joel Dowling, Ann Smoot, and Mary Allen (Joe); grandchildren: Brian Hancock, Stephen Hancock, Bobby Hancock Jr., Christy Dilg, Justin Smoot, Austin Dowling, Rusty Dowling, Angel Dowling, Hunter Dowling, Kyle Dowling, Logan Dowling, Matthew Craig, Brian Raby and Dustin Allen; and 29 beautiful great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at Smith Memory Chapel on Friday May 27, 2022 at 2pm. Burial will follow at Barrow Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 12-2pm Friday prior to the service.

Smith Funeral Home, Winder, has charge of arrangements