Martha Jane Pelfrey Hicks Gates, 84, a resident of Cleveland, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, in a local health care facility.

She retired from Charleston Hosiery Mill after many years of service.

She was of the Church of God faith and helped her husband, the Rev. Dan Hicks, in the ministry with singing for many years. She loved and was loved by all her grandchildren.

She was the daughter of the late Buddy Pelfrey and Aethio Patterson Pelfrey. She was also preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Dan Hicks Jr., who passed away in 1996; her second husband, William Frank Gates, who passed away in 2000; and siblings: Ruby Davis, Willie Green, Brownlee Green, Viola Green, Vance Green and Richard Green.

She is survived by two stepdaughters: Patsy Nichols of Cleveland and Kathy Batchelor of Birchwood; four stepsons and spouses: Dennis W. and Geraldine Hicks of Tellico Plains, David E. and Bertie Hicks of Cleveland, Danny L. and June Hicks of Cleveland and Jeffrey W. and Francine Hicks of Etowah; one foster son, Jerry R. Watson of Cleveland; two sisters: Exie Flowers of Cleveland and Delli Conner of Blue Ridge, Ga.; 22 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; a very special friend, Tommy Brock of Cleveland; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with the Revs. Dennis W. Hicks and the Ed Henderson officiating.

Interment will follow in Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service. Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 this evening at the funeral home.

You are invited to send a message of condolence and view the Gates family guest book at www.ralphbuckner.com.