May 9, 1960 – Dec. 20, 2013

NATCHEZ — Services for John Edward Bates, 53, of Natchez, who died Friday, Dec. 20, 2013, at Natchez Regional Medical Center, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Greater Mount Bethal with the Rev. Johnny Elery officiating.

Burial will follow in Sunset View Memorial Park cemetery under the direction of Bateaste Memorial Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mr. Bates was born May 9, 1960, in Natchez, the son of John Nelson and Rosemary Bates.

He was educated at South Natchez and retired from the City of Natchez. His interests included fishing, landscaping and cooking.

Mr. Bates was preceded in death by his wife, Rosie Bates; mother; two brothers, Tommy and George Bates; and aunt, Mattie Butler.

Survivors include his father; four daughters, Jocelyn Bates of Irving, Texas, Keisha Jones of Gautier, Shania and Cynthia Jones, both of Natchez; four brothers, Anthony and Andrew Bates, both of Irving, Texas, Stanely Clayton of Kansas City and Andre Nelson of Chicago; five sisters, Pamela Bates of Natchez, Lisa Whitehead and husband, Darren, of Nashville, Tenn., Cherryl Caster, LaShun Martin and Stepheny Polk, all of Chicago; 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a number of nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, family and friends.

Pallbearers will be Larry Hunter, Wilbert Whitley, Johnny Morgan, Leo Tucker, Andrew Bates and Anthony Bates.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jeremiah Whitehead, Matthews Whitehead, Jordan Bates and Kevin Bates.