BENNIE BATES
SARDIS, Miss. -- Bennie Boyce Bates, 85, of 101 Sycamore St., died Sunday at Kitty Askins Hospice Center.
Mr. Bates was a native of Franklin County, Ala., and was the son of the late Bennie Thomas Bates and Zelma Hester Bates. He was retired rural industries director for the State of Alabama and was known in his community as a master craftsman.
The funeral will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Sardis United Methodist Church in Sardis, Miss., with the Rev. Jim Cox and the Rev. Doyce Gunter officiating. A graveside service will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the City Cemetery in Red Bay, Ala.
Mr. Bates is survived by his wife, Maurine Alverson Bates; his daughter, Donna Bates Wilson and husband, Jim, of Goldsboro, N.C.; his son, Jan B. Bates and wife, Joan, of Fort Myers, Fla.; his grandchildren, Kyla W. Martin and husband, Dan, of Sugarland, Texas, Gillian W. Smith and husband, Glen, of Raleigh and Thomas Bates, Jeffery Bates, David Bates and Matthew Bates, all of Fort Myers, Fla.; and two great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday one hour prior to the service at Sardis United Methodist Church, and on Thursday from 1 until 2 p.m. at Deaton Funeral Home in Red Bay, Ala.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sardis United Methodist Church, Sardis, Miss.
Local arrangements by Seymour Funeral Home.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on July 26, 2004 1:39 PM