Funeral service for Tera Espa (White) McConnell Bates, age 97, of Decatur, will be Monday, December 15, 2014, 2:00 p.m., at Shelton Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bobby Ray Halbrooks and Rev. Zeke Haseldon officiating. Interment will be in Roselawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to service.
Mrs. Bates, who died Saturday, December 13, 2014, at Summerford Nursing Home, was born September 23, 1917, in Lauderdale County to Winston White and Exie Patrick White. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Huston L. McConnell, the father of her children; and one sister, Dessie White Gilbert.
A long time member of St. Luke United Methodist Church, she who loved the Lord and her family. She had an amazing “green thumb” and enjoyed sharing her roses and other beautiful flowers from her garden, and, for many years, made agrangements for the church services. Mrs. Bates also made and shared arrangements for the sick at home and in the hospital. She worked for many years at Goodyear Mills, and also at Mangels, Grant’s, Gibson’s Department Store, and Dis-Kay downtown.
She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Claude Thomas “Tom” Bates of Decatur; two sons, Robert McConnell (Linda) and Garrold McConnell (Jill), both of Decatur; one daughter, Angela McConnell Whitehead (Tommy) of Decatur; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and several nephews and nieces.
Her extended family includes Wanda Merrill (Don) of Winter Springs, FL; Faye Burton of Huntsville; Sherry Woodard (Bruce) of Brentwood, TN; Vanita Brown (Bucky) of Decatur; 11 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
The family would like to express special thanks to Summerford Nursing Home for their compassionate care during the past year.
Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial donations be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church Building Fund.
