Dr. James Verner Gatewood passed away Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at his home in Columbus, Mississippi. He was born August 21, 1942 in Forest, Mississippi to the late Lamar Wilson Gatewood and Marie Booth Gatewood. Dr. Gatewood was a graduate of Baylor University and Baylor School of Dentistry. He moved to Columbus, Mississippi in 1968 to practice general dentistry and practiced in Columbus for thirty-seven years. During his years in Columbus, James was an active member of the First Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School for the Gatewood Sunday School Class for over forty years, was a Deacon and former chairman of the First Baptist Deacons, was a long-time member of the Sanctuary Choir, and was Campaign Director of the Capital Funds for the "Because He Lives" first phase of the construction for the new First Baptist Building. Dr. Gatewood was also a member of the North Mississippi Emmaus Community, the Gideons' International, and of the Columbus Kiwanis Club. He was a former Baptist Memorial Hospital board member and a current board member of Trinity Place. James was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. He dearly loved his church, family, friends, patients, and especially his precious grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Diane Ward Gatewood; son, David Ward Gatewood and his wife, Tina; daughter, Leigh Anne Gatewood Carmichael and her husband, Steve; brother, Lamar W. Gatewood and his wife, Barbara; sister, Larie Gatewood Allen and her husband, Barry; and grandchildren, Harrison Carmichael, Hadley Carmichael, and Lucas Gatewood. Services will be Thursday, September 11 at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church; family will receive friends Wednesday, September 10 from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at Memorial Funeral Home. Interment will be at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Stockbridge, Georgia at 6:00 pm on Sunday, September 14. James was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. Serving as pallbearers will be Dr. Hiram Gatewood, Jr., Mr. Nelson Kaye, Dr. Jeremy Ward, Mr. Kurt Ward, Mr. Neal Ward, and Mr. Scot Ward. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Gatewood Sunday School Class. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to First Baptist Church Because He Lives - The Crossing building campaign P.O. Box 829 Columbus, MS 39703.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dr. James Verner Gatewood, please visit our flower store.
