Mary M. Bates – Obituary

by Lynn McMillen
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MaryRev. Mary M. Bates
(October 22, 1940 – June 4, 2013)

Funeral service for Mrs. Bates will be:

11:00am ~ Saturday, June 8, 2013

Hopewell Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Leighton, Alabama

Rev. John Haley, officating

Burial in Oakwood Cemetery, Sheffield, Alabama

The body will be placed in the church at 10:00am.

Public viewing will be Friday, 9:00am – 8:00pm.

Rev. Mary Magdalene Ingram Bates was born October 22, 1940, in Harvest, Alabama to the late Leotha Ingram and Mary Alice Walton Ingram.

She confessed Christ at the age of six and joined St. James Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Harvest, Alabama. Her family moved to Huntsville, Alabama and she joined the Mackin Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In 1952, her family moved to Leighton, Alabama and she united with the Hopewell Cumberland Presbyterian Church where she was a member of the choir until her husband was called to serve his Country in 1963. She traveled with him until he retired in 1983.

During this time, she worshiped in the military chapel until she joined Anderson Chapel A.M.E. Church in Killeen, Texas. She served as a Class leader, Missionary worker and on many auxiliaries in the church. While there, she was called into the ministry, and licensed to preach. She preached her first sermon at Thomas Chapel A.M.E. Church in Copperas Cove, Texas under the pastoral care of Rev. Aubrey Pickins.

After returning home in 1983, she reunited with Hopewell Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She was licensed to preach by the Florence Presbytery and was later ordained on April 15, 1984. She served as pastor of the Good Spring Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America for eight years. She served on various committees in the Florence Presbytery, and served two terms as moderator. She also served on the Judiciary committee in Alabama Synod, as well as Vice-Moderator. Finally, she served as Assistant Pastor at Mt. Zion Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.

She leaves to cherish her memories, a loving husband: Elder Richard Bates, Leighton, Alabama; daughter: Nicole Rishaun Bates (Charles A. Stamps), Houston, Texas; son: Minister Richard (Tamoria) Bates III, Chesapeake, Virginia; grand-children: Armani Nicole Bates, Huntsville, Alabama; Haven Denise Stamps, Houston, Texas; Itali Simone Bates, Janiya Cherreyle Bellamy, and Jayden Cayem Bellamy; sister: Eva (Robert) Kennemer, Huntsville, Alabama; brothers: Leotha (Imogene) Ingram, Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Bruce (Lila) Ingram ,Sheffield, Alabama; Docary (Carolyn) Ingram, Muscle Shoals, Alabama; brothers-in law: Lawrence (Mary) Williams, Huntsville, Alabama; Ruben (Wilma) Johnson, Lonnel (Regina) Johnson, Harvey (Essie) Johnson, Willie Derrick (Lisa), sisters-in-law: Mae Napier, Marva Garret all of Forest City, Arkansas; Pamela Johnson, Garland, Texas; special friends: Lucille Marshall, Pat Ingram, Leighton, Alabama; adopted family: Mary Alexander and family; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Tuscumbia, directing

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