Mildred "Diane" Brown Bates, age 71, of Carrollton, Georgia, received her Heavenly Promotion and was reunited with her loving husband, Dennis Bates Sr. on Monday, April 7, 2025. She was born on July 27, 1953, in Newnan, Georgia, the beloved daughter of the late William A. Brown and the late Mildred Helton Brown.

Diane was a devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother. A friend to everyone that she met. She loved the Lord, studying and teaching His word. She loved all of her friends and family, and known to many as "Granny" or "Maw Maw". Yellow flowers, bright colors and butterflies brought her joy. She spent many years in child care, and gained many, many "adopted grandchildren". Diane was the adult Sunday School Teacher for New Life Family Worship Center, where her son was pastor, and member to their family's home church, Trinity Worship Center. Her church was her extended family.

From her son's Facebook:

"On Sunday afternoon April 7th at 6:27 PM, my Momma had the church service she wanted, in the ICU at Tanner Medical Center in Villa Rica, surrounded by friends and family. We had a going home church service with singing, praising, and prayers. I feel the gates of Heaven opened up and Angels filled that room to give Momma the promotion she has earned."

In addition to her mother and father, Diane was preceded in death by her loving husband Dennis Lee Bates Sr.; sister, Sandra Watson; brother, William "Sonny" Brown II, Niece, Lisa Lewis; and great-nephew, Nicholas Pace - all of whom she held dear in her heart.

She is lovingly remembered by her son, Rev. Dennis "Toby" Bates Jr. & Grandson, Cody Bates; sister, Marie Woodruff; God-grandchildren, Holly Prince, Patricia Cavender, Dylan Digsby and Ashley Allman; as well as numerous children that she "adopted" and nieces & nephews that will carry her memory forward.

A home-going service to honor and celebrate Diane's life will be held on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 1:00 PM at Trinity Worship Center with Pastor Dewey Digsby, Brother Steve Helton and Pastor T. J. Pace officiating with the following gentlemen serving as pallbearers: T. J. Pace, Matthew Beasley, John Mills, Aiden Pace, Hippy Pace and Michael Fox. Cody Bates and Lucas Huddleston will escort her into church as honorary pallbearers. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Newnan, Georgia.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, April 13, 2025 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

Friends and family are invited to send condolence messages to the family at www.martin-hightower.com. Martin & Hightower Heritage Chapel is honored to handle the arrangements and support the family during this difficult time.