Martha Hicks Gates

Martha Jane Pelfrey Hicks Gates, 84, a resident of Cleveland, passed away Wednesday, September 28, 2011 in a local healthcare facility. Martha retired from Charleston Hosiery Mill after many years of service. She was of the Church of God faith and helped her husband Reverend Dan Hicks in the ministry with singing for many years. Martha loved and was loved by all her grandchildren. She was the daughter of the late Buddy Pelfrey and Aethio Patterson Pelfrey and was also preceded in death by her husband, Reverend Dan Hicks, Jr. who passed away in 1996 and her second husband, William Frank Gates who passed away in 2000; siblings: Ruby Davis, Willie Green, Brownlee Green, Viola Green, Vance Green and Richard Green. She is survived by two step daughters, Patsy Nichols of Cleveland and Kathy Batchelor of Birchwood; four step sons and spouses, Dennis W. and Geraldine Hicks of Tellico Plains, David E. and Bertie Hicks of Cleveland, Danny L. and June Hicks of Cleveland and Jeffrey W. and Francine Hicks of Etowah; one foster son, Jerry R. Watson of Cleveland; two sisters, Exie Flowers of Cleveland and Delli Conner of Blue Ridge, GA; 22 grandchildren; 38 great grandchildren; a very special friend, Tommy Brock of Cleveland; several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 1, 2011 in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Reverend Dennis W. Hicks and Reverend Ed Henderson officiating. Interment will follow in Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service. Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Her family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday, September 30, 2011 at the funeral home. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Gates family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.