On October 1st, 2022, God called Evangelist Ethel Mae Brantley Gatewood home. Ethel was born on January 31st, 1935 in Wrightsville, Georgia; to the late Charlie Brantley and Rosa Lee Moorman Brantley. She was the third daughter and seventh child out of thirteen children.

Ethel graduated as salutatorian from Dock Kemp High School in 1955. She then moved to Morristown, New Jersey where she began working at Greystone Park State Hospital. While working at Greystone, Ethel met John Wilson Gatewood Sr., the two married in June of 1956. From this union, came six children: 4 boys and 2 girls.

While employed at Greystone Park State Hospital, Ethel furthered her education through the Morris Hills Regency Nursing School. She received her LPN credentials in 1959. Ethel was also employed part time at Dependable Health-Care as a private duty nurse in Florham Park, New Jersey. In 2001, Ethel retired from practicing nursing and moved to Morven, North Carolina with her husband, John.

Raised in a Christian household, Ethel received Christ at the early age of seven. She continued to grow spiritually working as her church’s Sunday School Program Chairman and serving as Junior Missionary President. In June of 1955, Ethel joined Mount Olive Church Of God In Christ of Vaux Hall, New Jersey. After her husband became pastor five years later, Ethel served as First Lady and District President of Minister’s Wives. In 1975, Ethel followed her husband to the Church Of God In Christ of Morristown, NJ, and she was appointed to several committees. This included: President of the Improvement Committee, National Chairman of Finance of the Minister’s Wives Circle, National Worker of Hospitality, National Choir Member, and National member of the We Twelve Auxiliary. Evangelist Gatewood also served as President of the Missionary Circle at the local and national levels. She also served as Northern District Pastor’s and Minister’s Wives Circle President for 35 years. After moving to North Carolina, Ethel and John joined Holy Temple C.O.G.I.C in Wadesboro, North Carolina. She served as the church mother from 2001 until God called her to glory.

Ethel is proceeded in death by her husband, John W. Gatewood Sr., her daughter, Carolyn J. Gatewood Solomon, and her daughter-in-law, Kimberly Gatewood.

She leaves to cherish her loving memories, her two brothers: Jake Brantley (Trudy) and Eddie Brantley (Lillian), her sister, Annie Brantley, and her five children: John Gatewood Jr. (Rhonda), Darryl Gatewood (Roxann), Daniel Gatewood (Sandra), Rosa Gatewood Ashley, James Gatewood, and one son-in-law, Alvin Solomon. As well as her 15 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren whom she loved and cared for dearly, with a host of sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The Homegoing Services will be on Saturday, October 8, 2022, 1:00pm in the Chapel of Smith's Funeral Home, 604 Salisbury Street, Wadesboro, North Carolina. Interment will be in the family plot of The Gatewood Family Cemetery, Morven, North Carolina.

The family will greet family and friends on Friday, October 7, 2022 from 6:00-8:00pm and on Saturday, October 8, 2022 from 12:00-1:00pm in the Chapel of Smith's Funeral Home, 604 Salisbury Street, Wadesboro, North Carolina.