L'Isaa LaChandra Gates

Dr. L’Issa LaChandra Gates peacefully departed this life on May 25, 2026 at the age of 44, surrounded by loving family and friends. L’Issa was born on May 3, 1982 to Jeffery Gates and CaSandra Cooper-Gates, in New Orleans, LA. Her life was one of faith, compassion and service, always committed to the pursuit of excellence. She is fondly remembered for her beautiful personality, kind and generous spirit, and her compassion for all. L’Issa was a product of the Orleans Parish Public School System, graduating from Benjamin Franklin Senior High School, Class of 1999. Foundational to her life-long ambition of becoming a doctor, she attended Xavier University of Louisiana, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Pre-Medicine in 2003, which was conferred Magna Cum Laude with Honors in Biology and Honors in Chemistry. She attended Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, where she earned a Doctor of Medicine degree, conferred in 2007. She completed the Residency Training Program in Pediatrics with LSU School of Medicine. Dr. Gates began her practice in Pediatrics with Westside Clinics, AMC, where she was ultimately named a partner. Her practice was later merged into Ochsner for Children-Westside Pediatrics, where she served as Senior Attending Physician. She was slated to serve as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the developing Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine. Dr. Gates was an alumna of the Rosenblum Healthcare Institute, Committee for a Better New Orleans/Bryan Bell Metropolitan Leadership Forum and was a member of the Delgado Community College Care & Development of Young Children Board of Advisors because of her keen expertise in child care and commitment to quality, affordable healthcare. She served as a positive and visible role model in the community; participating in the American Medical Association Doctors Back to School (STEM) program; and was a Junior Achievement Volunteer. L’Issa readily championed the causes of such organizations as the American Cancer Society, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and the March of Dimes. Dr. Gates also gave selflessly to local initiatives that directly impacted women, minorities and the community as a whole. Her efforts were highly visible throughout the community and had a significant impact on scores of children. Because of her efforts and philanthropy, she was a recipient of awards from East Baton Rouge and Jefferson Parishes, Presidential, and New Orleans Mayor, New Orleans City Council, Louisiana House and Senate as well as congressional commendations. She received recognition from a number of publications including Data News Weekly’s 2013 Trailblazer, New Orleans Magazine’s Top Female Achiever, and Gambit Weekly’s 40 Under 40 review. New Orleans City Business Magazine also listed her in their Ones to Watch and Women of the Year highlights and lauded her as a Healthcare Hero. Additional accolades from the West St. Tammany YMCA, the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, Minority Access, Incorporated, the Young Leadership Council,. the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, the National Minority Quality Forum, and Character.org were bestowed. Dr. Gates was licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners as well as the Louisiana Department of Education and was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical, Beta Beta Beta Biological, Phi Lambda Upsilon Chemical, Alpha Epsilon Delta Premedical, Delta Omega Public Health, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership and Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Kappa Mu, Mortar Board and Phi Sigma Theta Scholastic Honor Societies. She was also a member of the AMA and was a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. L’Issa was a dedicated and committed member of Second Mount Everest Baptist Church, where she served in the Choir, Administrative Office Staff, Sunday School, and Prayer Ministry and other capacities needed. She was pre-deceased by her loving and doting grandfather, Nolan Cooper, Jr.; her cherished maternal great-grandparents, Rev. Harrison Dupree and Pensacola Dupree; her paternal grandmother, Esther Smith; her uncle Easton Gates; great-uncles, Ernest Dupree and Harrison Dupree, Jr.; great-aunt, Eunice Williams. Dr. Gates is survived by her loving parents, Jeffery Gates and CaSandra Cooper-Gates; grandmothers, Annie Dupree Cooper and Audrey Smith Gates; fiance’, Dr. Derek Bardell; great-aunts, Fran Dupree and Beverly Dupree; great-uncle and god-father, Isaac Dupree; godmother, Maxine Buckles; uncle, Lawrence Gates; her “sister” and best friend, Ebony Broussard; her “big sister”, Wendy Lewis; god-child, Tai Linton; her “bonus aunt,” Brenda Wilson; a loving multitude of cousins, other relatives and friends, as well as her beloved Church Family from Second Mount Everest Baptist Church. We acknowledge our sincere gratitude to the attending physicians and staff at University Medical Center, Ochsner Hospital (Main Campus, Medical ICU) and Ochsner Extended Care Hospital, for their utmost in professionalism and compassion while caring for our beloved, L’Issa. Relatives and friends of the family, employees of Ochsner Westside Pediatrics, and the Pastor, officers and members of Second Mount Everest Baptist Church, and the New Orleans Metropolitan Choral Union are invited to attend the Services on Saturday, May 30, 2026, with Visitation and Viewing from 11:00 until 12:15 and the Celebration of Life at 12:30 p.m. Services will be hosted at Second Free Mission Baptist Church, 1228 Burdette Street, New Orleans, LA 70118 (Rev. Dr. Warren Ray, Pastor), conducted by the Second Mount Everest Baptist Church, Rev. Don Graham, Sr. Presiding. Interment will immediately follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery and Mausoleum, 4000 Norman Mayer Avenue. Arrangements entrusted to D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the online guestbook.