Jesse H. "Tookie" Oates, III, 75 years of age, died Saturday, August 15, 2020 at his residence in Chapin. Born on May 4, 1945 in Chester, SC, he was a son of the late Jesse H Oates, Jr. and Mary Miller Oates. For twenty years Tookie worked as a S.C. Highway Patrolman. He then joined SLED as a special agent retiring after 10 years of service with them. Additionally, he served his state and country as a member of the S.C. National Guard. He was a member of the Newberry County Law Enforcement Association and the SC Law Enforcement Association and attended both Crosspoint Church and Chapin Presbyterian Church where he was a member of the Men's Senior Bible Study group. Fishing and coon hunting were among his most fun sports and he always enjoyed joking with and picking on others. Tookie was gifted with a caring heart and a loving spirit. Children and the elderly at the churches knew him as the "Candy Man" because he was always armed with candy to share. He was a giver in so many ways and was always concerned about people that he knew. He was constantly checking on the elderly and the sick to be sure their needs were taken care of. He loved his family and doted on his children and grandchildren He is survived by his wife Joyce H. Oates of almost 26 years; his daughters and their husbands, Jennifer "Jennie" O'Shields (Ben) of Prosperity and Lisa Bird (Sammy) of Chapin; grandchildren, Andrew Rutland, Jr., Ashlyn Rutland, Jesse O'Shields, Luke Bird, and Logan Bird; and siblings Callie Mason of Gastonia, NC, Bobbie Beam of Fort Mill, Bill Oates (Vickie) of Chester and Johnny Oates of Chester. Graveside funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, August 20 in Newberry Memorial Gardens with Rev. Jeff O'Dell and Rev. Scott Jenkins officiating. Viewing will be on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm at the Whitaker Funeral Home. Following the service, the family will remain graveside and friends may express their support and love by joining in a ride by at the gravesite. Honorary pallbearers will be retired Newberry County Law Enforcement Officers and members of the Chapin Presbyterian Church Bible Class. Memorials may be made to Crosspoint Church, PO Box 1171, Newberry, SC 29108 or Chapin Presbyterian Church, 600 Old Lexington Highway, Chapin, SC 29036. If you would like to join the live stream of the funeral, go to www.zoom.us/join. Enter the meeting ID - 803-276-5000 and click "Join". Please contact the funeral home if you need further instructions. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.whitakerfuneralhome.com. Whitaker Funeral Home of Newberry is assisting the family.