Lois Bizzell Cates

Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee announces services for Lois Bizzell Cates, 81, of Hiawassee, Georgia, formerly of Atlanta, passed away Saturday, July 25, 2009, after a long battle with Lewey Body Dementia, a form of Parkinson's. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. In addition, she was was active in her Atlanta church, the Wieuca Road Baptist Church, where she held over the years various Sunday School Class offices and where she volunteered, for many summers, as the nurse at Church Camp. Earlier, she was Co-Chairman, along with the pastor's wife, Mrs. Roy McClain, of the Women's Missionary Union at Atlanta's First Baptist Church. At the time of her passing, she was a member of the McConnell Memorial Baptist Church.

She was a native of Macon, Georgia, but grew up in Eatonton, Georgia, where she graduated in 1944 with third honors from the Eatonton High School. She was a member of the 1948 graduating class of the Georgia Baptist Hospital School of Nursing, and would have served her country as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corp, if World War II had not ended when it did. She met her husband, Hugh Cates, at the First Baptist Church of Atlanta in January 1949. They became engaged in May and married in August of that year. She was a stay-at-home mom, rearing her children Christopher and Suzanne Cates. The couple's first child, Carolyn Marianna Cates, died soon after birth.

Besides her husband Hugh, survivors include son, Christopher and his wife, Joy Cates; daugher Suzanne and her husband David Martin; and five grandchildren: Nathaniel and his wife, Eleanor Cates; Andrew and his wife, Brooke Cates; and Hannah and Callie Martin. Lois was preceded in death by her parents Mr. and Mrs. Henry David Bizzell, Sr., of Eatonton, Georgia; and her four siblings: Henry Bizzell, Jr., Mrs. Jim (Carolyn Bizzell) Adkisson, Leroy Bizzell and Bill Bizzell.

Lois will be sorely missed by her family and many friends, who all realize that she is now in a better place with her Heavenly Father. Her beautiful smile and disposition will linger in the memory of all who loved and knew her.

Flowers are accepted; however, if you wish, the family has requested donations be made in memory of Lois to the McConnell Memorial Baptist Church (84 Church St., Hiawassee, Georgia 30546). Services celebrating her life will be held Monday, July 27, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at the McConnell Memorial Baptist Church in Hiawassee, with Revs. Phil Heard and Don Pickerill officiating. Pallbearers will be Nathaniel Cates, Andrew Cates, David Martin, Jim Carroll, Ray Edwards, and Chip Shively. Burial will be in Osborn Cemetery. Visitation at the funeral home in Hiawassee will be on Sunday, July 26, 2009, from 4:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m.

Arrangements entrusted by the family to Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee. You are invited to send condolences