Funeral for Tera McConnell Bates, 97, of Decatur will be Monday, December 15th at 2 p.m. at Shelton Funeral Home with Rev. Bobby Ray Halbrooks and Rev. Zeke Haseldon officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.
She was born September 23, 1917, in Lauderdale County to Winston White and Exie Patrick White. She was a Christian woman, who loved the Lord and loved her family. She was a longtime member of St. Luke United Methodist Church and enjoyed sharing her beautiful flowers and roses she grew in her garden and making arrangements for the church service many years. She also shared and made arrangements for the sick and those in the hospital. She had an amazing “green thumb”. She formerly worked many years at Goodyear Mills, Mangels, Grant’s, Gibson’s Department Store and Dis-Kay downtown.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Huston L. McConnell, the father of her children; sister, Dessie White Gilbert. The family wishes to express special thanks to Summerford’s for their care over the past year.
Survivors include her husband of 42 years, Claude T. Bates; one daughter, Angela McConnell Whitehead (Tommy), of Decatur; two sons, Robert McConnell (Linda), of Decatur and Garrold McConnell (Jill), of Hartselle; seven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Her extended family is: Wanda Merrill (Don), of Winter Springs, FL; Faye Burton, of Huntsville; Sherry Woodard (Bruce), of Brentwood, TN and Vanita Brown (Bucky), of Decatur; Eleven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church Building Fund
