Mrs. Nellie Pearl Gates of 112 Marshall Circle, Cordele, Georgia, died Monday, March 9, 2026, at the Crisp Regional Hospital in Cordele, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 12:00 Noon, in the sanctuary of the Allen Temple AME Church in Cordele, Georgia.  The burial will follow at the Sunnyside Cemetery in Cordele, Georgia.

On March 3, 1943, in Dawson, Georgia, Charlie and Ruby Lee Burnery were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, whom they named Nellie Pearl Gates.

Affectionately known as Pearl and Nel, Nellie and her sister,  Leila, were lovingly raised by their aunt, Ola Mae, their mother's sister. It was this influential aunt who introduced the girls to the Word of God. Under her guidance, both became members of  Union Hill A.M.E. Church at a very young age.

In 1962, Nellie graduated from John Lewis High School, Ellaville, Georgia. Shortly after graduation, she left the cotton fields where she worked and moved to Atlanta in search of a better life. There she met Sylvia Gates, who soon became her best friend. Through Sylvia, Nellie met Sylvia's brother—the man who would become the love of her life and her soulmate. Nellie and Madison Gates were united in marriage on December 23, 1963. Their union was blessed with two children: Sheryl Denise and Madison Lamar Gates.

Nellie was far more than a devoted wife and mother. She worked for the Atlanta Public Schools System as a Dietitian, where she often served as a counselor to single mothers and children from broken homes or facing behavioral challenges. Her compassion was not a duty—it was her nature. She could never turn away from anyone in need. She fed the hungry, clothed the naked, sheltered the homeless, and guided lost souls back toward God.

After Nellie retired, she and her family relocated from Stone Mountain, Georgia, to Cordele in 2005. In 2006, she joined Allen Temple A.M.E. Church, where she served faithfully and wholeheartedly. She led as President of the Usher Board, participated in the Women's Missionary Society, served on the Steward Board, and assisted with Sunday School. Her dedication to the church reflected her lifelong commitment to service, faith, and community.

She found joy in cooking, canning, sewing, gardening, and fishing. After a long illness, Nellie was received into the Lord's arms on Monday, March 9, 2026.

She leaves to cherish her memory - Madison Gates, her devoted and faithful husband (Cordele, Georgia); Sheryl Gates, her devoted and faithful daughter and caregiver (Cordele, Georgia); Dr. Madison L. Gates, her son (Portugal); sister-in-law Sylvia  Latimer (Dee); brother-in-law Cecil Gates (Alice); nieces Renita Bethune (Michael), Angela Hosch (Guy), Leisa Easley (Dexter); nephew Henry Nelloms, III (Antoinette), and a host of other  family members and friends.

Her legacy of love, service, and unwavering faith will continue to shine through all who were blessed to know her.