Mrs. Genell “Big Mama” Tate Mayes, 93, of 2407 Beech Street, passed away Friday, July 5, 2019, in her home.

Widow of J.W. Mayes, she was born in Cherokee County and was a daughter of the late Wadell and Rachel Hoey Tate.

She was a member of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church where she served as custodian, member of the Mixed Choir, usher, and missionary.  She was a retired cafeteria employee, after twenty-five years of service, from B.D. Lee Elementary School.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two sons, Wadell and Calvin Mayes, and siblings, L.W. Eugene, John D., Joe Lewis, James “Rusty” Tate, Sarah Lee Smith, Minnie Alice Gregory, and Lois Bright.

She leaves to cherish loving memories: two sons, Wayne “Jerry” Mayes (Florence), of Reidville, SC and William “Pee Wee” Mayes; two daughters, Mary “Lib” Watkins (Joe) and Denise Harris; two brothers, Charlie Tate (Mary) and Victor Tate; sisters, Bernell Tate, Ruth Huskey, and Marva Littlejohn (Frank), all of Gaffney; 22 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren; 5 greaat–great grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Beverly Mayes of Lawrenceville, GA; sisters-in-law, Ezera Tate and Sarah Tate of Gaffney,  Eloise Tate of Thomasville, NC, Jennie Mayes of Washington, DC; brother-in-law, Rev. Willie Lee Mayes of Gaffney.

The Funeral Service will be Thursday, 2:00 p.m., in Mt. Tabor Baptist Church with Rev. Darrell Smith officiating.  Interment will follow in the church cemetery.  She will be in state in the church Thursday at 1:00 p.m.

The Gilmore Mortuary