Annie Ruth "Tootsie" Gatewood

Mrs. Annie Ruth Bell Gatewood "Tootsie", was born July 8, 1935, in Brewton, Alabama to the union of Leonard Bell and Sallie Ethel Herrington Bell. She went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Nashville Center for Rehabilitation and Healing in Nashville, Tennessee.

Annie was educated in Brewton, Alabama, she accepted Christ at an early age and was a devoted Christian.

Annie married James A. Gatewood who was the love of her life in 1958.

She was employed by the Treasury Department of the State of Tennessee from 1972 until 2009 when she was blessed to retire.

In her spare time, she enjoyed dancing, using the computer, playing solitaire, cooking, gardening, cards, crossword puzzles, scrolling on Facebook and spending time with family and friends.

Annie was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Sallie Bell and her loving husband, James A. Gatewood, daughter, Sara Griffith, sons, Roberto Gatewood and brothers, Willie James Bell, Leonard Bell and Ernest Bell, sister, Sara Boston, brothers- in-law, Lawrence Mallard, Kelvin Ewing,

She leaves to cherish her memories, son, Thomas Gatewood, grandson, Steven Griffith, granddaughter, Tootsie Macia (LaDontae) Nelson, great-grandchildren, Kyra Humphrey, LaDontae, Jr., Omari and Khalia Nelson and more, sister, Betty Mallard and Barbara Ewing, Ethel Jackson Henderson, son-in-law, Michael Griffith, family friends, Diane Crump, Shirley Chatman, Ron Arnett, Sareatha and many more, along with other extended family and friends.