THOMASVILLE — "Our loving mother Louise J. Oates went to her heavenly home Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010. She was loved by so many and she loved everyone. Her home was a place that, once you went there, you knew it was a place you would want to revisit time and time again. There was a peace and comfort there that stayed with you when you left. The wisdom she has shared with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will be a constant reminder of just what a beautiful, giving, loving woman she was. Whether she was teaching you how to cook, how to crochet, or how to waltz, these are memories of a lifetime. For those whose lives that have been touched by our mother, whether it be a long time or maybe you were privileged to be a part of her life for only a short while, you can know a piece of that Treasure that God gave to us is one that will be and should be cherished for a life time. ("Her children arise up and call her blessed..." Proverbs 31:28) "

Services for Elizabeth Louise Jackson Oates are at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010, at Dawson Street Baptist Church, with interment at Sunset Memorial Gardens, with Chris Jones, the Rev. Lee Waller, the Rev. Ken Burgess and Pastor Bobby Pope officiating. Active pallbearers are Wayne Oates, George Johnson, Neal Harrison, Todd Gibbs, Jared Gibbs and Conner Gibbs. Mrs. Oates died Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010, at Archbold Medical Center. She was born Dec. 7, 1914, in Mitchell County, a daughter of the late Barry Franklin Jackson and Georgia Pearl West. On June 7, 1942, in Cairo, she married Thomas Eugene “Gene” Oates, who died Dec. 11, 1992. Mrs. Oates was a homemaker. She was a member of Dawson Street Baptist Church and attended Trinity Baptist Church. She is survived by daughters, Jan Jones (Dan), Thomasville, June Cochran (Roger), Boston, Tommie Oates, Thomasville; grandchildren, Chris Jones (Kathy), Robin Worrell (Dave), Frankie Gibbs (Todd); great-grandchildren, Jessi Jones, Eden Jones, Tim Sherrod, Britanny Sherrod, Krysten Sherrod, Taylor Sherrod, Ryan Sherrod, Nicholas Sherrod, Jared Gibbs, Conner Gibbs; adopted daughter, Wonnie Ogletree; a number of nieces and nephews; and special friends, Dorothy Drummond, Geneva Council. Mrs. Oates was preceded in death by a grandson, Richie Jones; sisters, brother, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Southwest Georgia. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Sign the book on-line at www.whiddonshiverfuneralhome.com. — Whiddon -Shiver Funeral Home