Lois B. Bennett Gates

She was born in Hattiesburg and was raised in Hattiesburg, Bond, and Jackson, Mississippi. She was a graduate of Central High School. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Lonnie Gates, and brothers, Charles Farmer and Glenn Bennett.

She was a member of St. Matthew's UMC, in Madison, MS, and previously attended Leavell Woods Methodist Church, Jackson, MS.

She is survived by three children: Linda Payonk; Pamela Albrecht and husband William; and Ken Gates and wife Sharon; and three grandchildren: Ginny Gates; Linda Robertson and husband Cody; Brian Gates and wife Christen.

Lois enjoyed cooking, sewing, traveling, gardening, taking care of her family, and being a New York Yankees fan.

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n lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Matthew's UMC or the American Heart Association.

Visitation will be 4-6pm Sunday January 8, 2012 and 10am Monday January 9, 2012 at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Ridgeland. The funeral service will be 11:00am Monday at the funeral home with burial to follow in Lakewood Memorial Park.