Gladys Lucille Bates, 95, of Liberty, departed this life on March 24, 2024 at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Visitation will be Thursday March 28,2024 from 9-11 am at Hartman-Jones Funeral Home in McComb. Funeral services will follow in the chapel at 11 am with the Rev. James Sanders officiating. Burial will be in the Old Gillsburg Cemetery.

Lucille was born on April 7, 1928 in Fernwood, MS to the late William H McKenzie and Queenie Ann Phelps McKenzie.

She had a fighting spirit that stayed with her until the end. She never gave up no matter what life threw at her and she had an immense love for her family. She raised 8 children on her own after the sudden passing of her late husband, Spencer McMillan. She supported her family by working at her sister's business, Adams Poultry Plant and later in the Amite County Chancery Clerk's office for 20 years. She retired from the Amite County Courthouse. It was in the Chancery Clerk's office where she met her second husband, the late Hollis Bates.

She was a mother (and dad) to her children, a grandmother, a sister, a friend, but most importantly she was a child of God. She was the rock of her family and will leave a void that can never be filled. Her unwavering love and support of her family earned her the 2019 Enterprise Journal Mother of the Year. She loved her flowers, peacocks and hummingbirds. She also loved to play piano although she never learned to read music. She used to play piano for Robinson Baptist Church and for the McKenzie Quartet for many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 9 brothers and 3 sisters, husbands, Spencer McMillan and Hollis Bates, 4 children, Robert McMillan, twins Evelyn McMillan (infant) and Edith Maurer, and David McMillan, and two grandsons, Bryant Carter and Norman McMillan.

Family left to cherish her memory include one brother, Winfred McKenzie, 5 children, Hewitt McMillan, Kenneth (Nancy) McMillan, John (Martha) McMillan, Richard McMillan, and Anita (Frank) Gerarve, grandchildren, David Wayne (Jennifer) McMillan, Evelyn (Ryan) Schlatre, Dannette (Dewayne) Penton, Keisha (Gary) Aymond, Michelle (Terry) Walker, Jenny (Maxine) Hillier, Amy Brewer, Tony Maurer, David (Amy) Maurer, Jason (Ashley) Maurer, Ryan (Blaire) McMillan, Brent (Lindy) McMillan, Alex (Kristy) Gerarve, Alicia (Guy) Palermo, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren and extended family.

Pallbearers will be Tony Maurer, Wyatt Hucabee, David Aubrey Barclay, Brent McMillan, Jace Burnette, Triston Castille, David Maurer, and Guy Palermo

Honorary pallbearers are Ryan McMillan, Brayden Ready, Dalton Castille, Garron Castille, Alex Gerarve, Bailey Walker, AJ Palermo, TJ Clanton, Jason Maurer, Jack Mckenzie and Malcolm Hucabee.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to her caregiver and granddaughter, Maxine Hillier.