Thomas Eugene Bates

Published 12:01 am Monday, July 18, 2016

OXFORD — Services for Thomas Eugene Bates, 76, of Oxford, who died Friday, July 15, 2016, at the Methodist Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Oxford with the Rev. Ann Whitaker officiating.

Burial will be Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Natchez City Cemetery with the Rev. Hubert Morris officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Waller Funeral Home in Oxford.

Visitation will be from noon until service time Wednesday at the church.

Mr. Bates was born Aug. 4, 1939, in Florence, Ala., the son of Thomas Issac and Edna Sandifer Bates.

He was retired from the University of Mississippi where he served as the assistant dean of the School of Education and taught statistics.

He was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and enjoyed traveling and reading. He was an officer of the Friends of the Library.

Tom was an accomplished percussionist and played in the Oxford, Hattiesburg and Slidell community bands. Before coming to Ole Miss, he taught and was an administrator at Shenandoah University for 15 years. His great-aunt, Kathryn Lee Bates, wrote the words to the song America the Beautiful. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army where he achieved the rank of first lieutenant during his service.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Carol Williamson Bates; one daughter, Jodi Andrew and husband, Jackie, of Chatham, La.; one brother, Reggie Crawford of Texas; one grandchild, Brooke Wells of West Monroe, La.; and one great-grandchild, Ana Brooke Wells of West Monroe.

Memorial contributions in Tom’s memory may be made to the Oxford-Lafayette Library, 401 Bramlett Blvd., Oxford, MS 38655 or Oxford Medical Ministries Clinic, 205 S. Commerce, Oxford, MS 38655.

In honor of Tom’s service to his country, the flag of the U.S. Army will be flown at Waller Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be sent to wallerfuneralhome.com or call 662-234-7971.