Jerlene (Cates) Towe

Jerlene first came to Florida in 1951 with her late husband, J.T. Cates, and settled here to raise their family. She loved God first, and deeply loved her family and church families. She was a member of Gracepoint Church of Winter Haven, Fl. and Eastwood Church of God of Swainsboro, Ga.

She enjoyed playing her guitar, singing for the Lord, cooking for family and friends, snuggling her puppies (Bella and Stanley), and lending a helping hand to anyone who needed it. She especially loved cooking for holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Her family was particularly fond of her chicken & dumplings and cornbread dressing. Jerlene was also a crafty and creative woman. She often designed gifts of love for her children and grandchildren like handmade bridal bouquets and sock snowmen. One of her favorite things to do was sit at the table and play Train or Trouble for hours with family and friends. She loved Jesus and had a longing to go be with Him. She was a very strong and special woman, who will be greatly missed, but we are so happy to know that she is strolling over Heaven today. Her greatest heart’s desire was to see all her family saved & be reunited in Heaven with her one day.

Jerlene is preceded in death by parents, Earlin Dishman & Susie Lee McDonald; her husbands, J.T. Cates & Frank Towe; sons, Stanley & Charles Cates; siblings, Maxine Murphy, Betty Phillips, Carl Dishman, and Johnny Dishman. She is survived by children, Linda Hicks of Dunkirk, Indiana; Barbara Cranford (Julius) of Swainsboro, Georgia; Faye McElyea (Ronald) of Swainsboro, Georgia; Jackie Cates (Darlene) of Auburndale, Florida; Brenda Gates (Tony) of Bartow, Florida; and Regina Smith of Frostproof, Florida; along with siblings, James Dishman and Mary Ruth Ledbetter. She leaves behind fourteen grandchildren, thirty-one great-grandchildren, and ten great-great-grandchildren.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Ott-Laughlin.com for the Cates/Towe family.