Pearlina Bates

Published 12:00 am Friday, February 1, 2008

NATCHEZ – Services for Pearlina B. Bates, 77, of Natchez, who died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, at Natchez Regional Medical Center, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Southwood Lodge Baptist Church with the Rev. Justin Conner officiating.
Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of George F. West Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Mrs. Bates was born July 31, 1930, in Natchez, the daughter of William Banks Sr. and Lenora A. Banks. She was a housekeeper. Mrs. Bates was a member of Southwood Lodge Baptist Church. She was an Eastern Star. She enjoyed singing gospel music, fishing, television game shows and cooking.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elijah Bates; one daughter, LeeAnna White; three brothers; and four sisters.
Survivors include six sons, John Bates and wife, Daisy, both of Spring, Texas, Charles, Darnell and Ronnie Bates and special friend, Lanitra, all of Natchez,, Robert Bates and wife, Carolyn, both of Houston, and Nathaniel Bates and wife, Rachel, both of Sevierville, Tenn.; two daughters, Dorothy Bates and fiancé, Ventress, and Cynthia Bates and fiancé, Alfred, all of Natchez; four sisters, Esther Gayden, Ruby James and Lucille Brown, all of Baton Rouge and Malinda Davis of Detroit; two sisters-in-law, Mittie Ford and Exelena Arbuthnot; three brothers-in-law, David, Freddie and Johnny Bates, all of Natchez; 23 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Pallbearers will be Lonnie Banks, Larry Evans, E.J. Conner, Larry Franklin, Walter Calvit and Bobby Gibson.