James "Doc" Croswell Cates

Mr. James “Doc” Croswell Cates, 83, of Tifton died Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at Tift Regional Medical Center.

A Memorial service will be held Saturday, December 5, 2020 at 1:00 P.M. in the chapel of Albritton Funeral Directors with Mr. Tommy Nalls and Rev. Jimmy Sumner officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday evening, December 4th from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Due to Covid restrictions, masks during the visitation and the memorial service.

Mr. Cates was born August 19, 1937 in Mitchell County to the late John Edward Cates and Isola Edwards Cates. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Eddie Cates and his sister, Betty Allgood. He lived in Moultrie most of his life and graduated from Moultrie High School in 1955. Mr. Cates was a man of faith. He was a member of Memorial Baptist Church in Moultrie, where he was ordained a Deacon, served as Sunday School Director, Training Union Director and filled in as the Choir Director. Mr. Cates also enjoyed a very successful lay ministry, which extended from middle Georgia down through the southern parts of Georgia into north Florida.

Doc moved to Tift County in the eighties where he became a member of Northside Baptist Church, served there as Sunday School Director for several years and sang in the choir. Also, while at Northside he continued to teach Sunday School and Bible Study as long as his health permitted. He loved his family and was a good provider. Doc was a good example to each of his children and grandchildren. Doc enjoyed collecting relics of the old west and enjoyed western movies. He was a “jack of all trades” and enjoyed working in his shop. Mr. Cates loved music particularly the older southern gospel music such as the Gaither’s.

Mr. Cates is survived by his wife Sara Baldree Cates to whom he was married for thirty-one years; two daughters and son-in-law, Charlotte Cates of Auburn, Ga., and Michelle and Tim Barnes of Camilla, Ga.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Curt and Laurie Malcom of Homerville, Ga., and Steve and Nichole Miller of Dupont, Ga.; his grandchildren, Ashlea McSwain(Windham) of Fairchild AFB,WA, Austin and Abbey Barnes of Camilla, Ga., Statton and Sara Grayson Malcom of Homerville, Ga., and Carrington Douglas and Maddux Miller of Dupont, Ga.; great grandchild, Zain McSwain of Fairchild AFB,WA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tifton Meals on Wheels, PO Box 2053, Tifton, Ga. 31793.

Albritton Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.