Ministers

Mrs. Martha L. Gates Davis fondly remembered as a woman before her times

Paulette Hill: "We're living in perilous times!" How many times do you all remember hearing that from Rev Martha Gates? She used to live in Shady Grove a house or two from my Grandma Hill, Mrs. Jackie Baker and several others. I was quite scared of her. She was about like L.B Hendrix not to be played with. We could hear her preaching or singing in the evenings. She always wore black. I can't ever remember seeing her eyes because she wore dark glasses also. She would always show up at someone's church and be allowed to sit in the pulpit. I never heard her preach. Some said her son came and moved her to California to live with him. Not sure how true that is. Does anyone know anything?

Teresa Cobb: I remember her shouting, and running the isle like an air plane at BRBC, my mama Mary Baker, and Mrs. Annie Ruth Shaw, were ushers on the back door, one day they opened the door to let her run out, but she stopped. Dec. Robert Rome got on them about that. All the kids at BRBC was scared of her too.

Jean Sadler: I think of her often. She told the truth.. lots of people laughed at her, but I know God was using her, then we still remember what she said, it was the word . nor sure if she is still alive. I would like to know too. Our prayer ladies speak of her often..we had an old preacher in our home town preached perilous times, and Ezekiel 37, dry bones. People laughed at him, but I remember his scriptures and the Sermon . so who is the better preacher???

J Philip Baker: I don't think she is still living. I think I remember Mrs. Dora Zackery telling me she keep up with her. Again I agree she was ahead of her time people weren't ready for her. If she lived today she would be highly sought after minister. She was the forerunner for women ministers and Pastors in our community. She also was educated many people did not know she was a school teacher at one time

Marilyn Brown: Yes she moved there with him. She visited the Rock church often. She prophesied a lot. I didn't understand then but now I do. Very gifted in the word. She has passed on.

C. Lynn Gibson: I remember her as well! It really wasn't what she said that scared the kids, it's how she said it! Rev Baker, I knew she was educated because she actually taught my mom.

Melanie Williams Biggs: Miss Martha have a beautiful granddaughter in Covington . Her name is Amy Woods. She is Richard's daughter. Richard was her only child. She was a mighty woman of God.

Teresa Rouhlac: She also has a grandson David Gates , he passed so yrs ago but he has family in Shady Grove the Moore's

Norma Shipp: I remember her also. She came over to our house quite frequently as we were growing up. She did move away and mom stayed in touch with her for a while. I remember mom saying she had passed some years ago. She really studied the scriptures and could recite them. She also wrote poetry and songs. I agree she was way more advanced in the word and prophesies at that time. Most people thought she was not all that straight in the head and made fun of her. She really believed strongly in God and wanted everyone else to believe too. Thanks for bringing her up P. I can hear Paulette Hill her saying it now, "We are living in perilous times."

Evelyn Smith: She and my mother (Hattie Bowden Peek) were friends and she would often stop at our house to visit. She would wait for the bus or her son Richard. She was truly ahead of the times and she could prophesy and give you a good sermon.

Facebook July 19, 2017 conversations

Evangelist Martha L. Gates (cont'd): A few weeks ago the conversation was about Martha Gates and how she was an evangelist before her time, etc. I mentioned that she wrote poetry and songs. I came across a song that she gave to my mother many years ago. It was a Christmas Carol, "Joy Bells" written between 1960-1970. I also noticed that she signed her name Martha L. Gates Davis. Enjoy!

Submitted to Facebook October 1, 2017 by Norma Shipp