Tommy Gates

John Thomas (Tommy) Gates passed away peacefully at his residence in Aberdeen, MS, on Thursday, January 18, 2024. He was predeceased by his parents Fannie Mae and John Carter Gates and his younger sister, Mary Frances Chambers. He is survived by his loving wife Jacqie, two children Debbie and Jenna, and granddaughter Jaqi (Tyler).

 Tommy was born in 1936 in Macon, MS, where he grew up playing sports, working as a lifeguard, and helping out in his father’s shoe store before attending Mississippi State University to study both engineering and accounting while participating in ROTC. While attending MSU, he started dating Jacqie, also of Macon, who was friends with his sister and had known since childhood that they would eventually be married. 

 Jacqie and Tommy were married in 1959. After Tommy served six months active duty in the Army, they settled in Aberdeen, where he started work as a Cost Accountant at Walker Manufacturing and was an officer in the Army Reserves and then the Mississippi National Guard. Jacqie and Tommy built a full life in Aberdeen as active members of First Baptist Church and then River Bend Baptist Church. Tommy was always active in the church throughout his life, as a deacon, bus driver, sound director, and Sunday School teacher and director. He also had strong friendships and community ties outside of church and will be loved and missed by his friends.

 In 1973, he became the Plant Manager of Walker. Many people in Aberdeen have fond memories of working for Tommy over the years, because he was a fair boss who put people first and cared about their lives outside of work. In 1990, Tommy purchased Tupelo Tool & Die, in Tupelo, MS, where he continued his personable style of “management by wandering around” until his retirement in May 2014. 

 Tommy passed along a love of cars and horses to his daughters and granddaughter, but, more importantly, he taught them a commitment to family and community. Their service to their respective communities will always be part of Tommy’s legacy. 

 Services will be held at River Bend Baptist Church on Friday, January 26, at 2:00 PM with Dr. Roy McHenry and Bro. Mark Robbins officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until service time. Following the service, private burial will be at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens.

 Pallbearers will be Richie Wright, Lynn Pigford, Willie Malone, Joseph Herring, Glenn Atkins, and Billy Williams. Honorary pallbearers will be George Provias, William L. Davis, and Dr. Arthur Brown. 

 Condolences may be shared with the family at tisdalelannmemorialfh.com

 In lieu of flowers, Tommy’s family would find donations to River Bend or to Gideons International to be a meaningful tribute.