Velma Gates Bicker

Velma Gates Bicker, 87, passed away Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at Merit Health Rankin . Visitation is 10 am Friday, August 18, 2023 at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon. Services will be held Friday at 11 am at the funeral home with at 3 pm entombment at Lakewood Memorial Park in Jackson.  Rev. Jude Reaux will officiate.

Velma was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.  She was born in Oxford, Mississippi and graduated high school from Oxford High School. After High School, she worked as a sales clerk at Nelson’s Department Store in the Square in Oxford. Velma worked as a Secretary for the President of Kennington’s Department Store in Jackson, Mississippi for many years. She was an active member of Siwell Road Church of Christ and loved her Lord and Savior.

Her hobbies included cooking, bingo, coloring, watching Jeopardy and being with family.

Velma will be lovingly remembered by her brother, Sonny Maples (Virginia); her sisters, Myrtle McLarty and Betty Jean Hargrove (Bobby); her children, Susan Smith (Mark), Louis Gates (Pam), William Gates and Terri Whatley (Ed); her grandchildren, Jarod Smith (Jennifer), Matthew Gates (Kaitlin), Mallory Ross (Justin), Kristy Quenneville (Mark), Kenneth Gates (Ashley), Kevin Gates, William Cable, Jr. and Amanda Carney (Dusty), along with 22 great grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Jarod Smith, Matthew Gates, William Cable, Jr., Kenneth Gates, Walker Mayfield, Mark Smith and Ed Whatley.

The family request memorials to Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital, 2500 N. State Street, Jackson, MS 39216