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March 13, 1972 – July 16, 2024

NATCHEZ – Funeral services for Debbie Lynell Smith Bates, 51, of Marietta, GA, formerly of Natchez, who died on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Georgia, will be held on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, at 11 a.m. at West Gate Funeral Home (George F. West Sr. Memorial Chapel) with Minister Kareem Jones officiating.

Burial will follow at the Rose Hill #1 Baptist Church Cemetery in Fayette under the direction of West Gate Funeral Home.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, from 3:30 until 4:30 p.m. and on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.

Debbie was born March 13, 1972, in Natchez, the daughter of Ruby Felton Smith and Roosevelt Smith, Sr. She was a graduate of Natchez High School and received an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science from Copiah-Lincoln Community College. She was employed with Walmart in Austell, GA, where she was a garden center associate. In her spare time, she enjoyed shopping, cooking, and couponing.

Debbie is preceded in death by her father, and sisters, Barbara Smith and Lucille Smith.

She leaves to cherish her loving memory: mother, Ruby Felton Smith; brothers, Roosevelt Smith Jr., Curtis Edward Smith, Darryl Smith, Robert Jackson, Larry (Josie) Jackson, and Brian (Barbara) Hall; sisters, Jessie (Preston) Smith Jones, Ellen Smith, Zellen Smith, Juanita (Ronnie) Watts, Grace (Arthur) Richardson, Dorothy (George) Collins and Shirley Ann Ramsey; and a host of special uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, coworkers, and friends.

Online condolences may be sent to www.westgatefh.com.