Carolyn Helm Gates' Obituary
Carolyn Helm Gates was born July 23, 1935, in Geiger, Al, the fifth of six siblings. She passed on February 18, 2017, having lived a life rich with friends and family who loved her. She has joined her husband, James P. Gates. Among her countless contributions to Shelby County, were her 17 years as County Commissioner, fundraising for the University of Memphis, and a volunteer for the Salvation Army, Republican Career Women, Youth Villages, St. Jude, Girls Scouts, the DAR, Suburban Garden club, Germantown Museum, and Germantown Methodist Church. She published 2 books, earned a BA degree, cum laude, and the Series 7 Broker’s License. She was appointed to the Defense Advisory Committee of Women in the Service, by the Secretary of Defense. She leaves 3 children, Steve Gates, Kimbrough (Jeff) Nash, and Chris Gates; 2 grandchildren, Alexi and James Nash; her sister, Dorothy Anne Brown; and brother, Russell Gilbert along with several nieces and nephews. Services are at Germantown Methodist Church Thursday, February 23, visitation at 11 am followed by funeral services at 12 noon. Memorials are requested to be sent to SRVS, Happy Tails no kill shelter, or Wounded Warriors Project.Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis TN 38119 (901) 767-8930. “Celebrating Life….Behind the Stone Wall.”
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