Bettie Mae Bates, 91, of Winter Haven, Florida passed away on December 28, 2015 at the Good Shepherd Hospice house.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015 at 10:00 am at the First Baptist Church of Winter Haven located at 198 West Central St. Dr. Walter Davis and Dr. Carey Bates will officiate. The family will receive friends at the church from 9:00 am until service time. Burial will follow at 1:30 pm at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell located at 6502 SW 102nd Ave.
Bettie was born in Levy, Arkansas on Oct. 18, 1924 to the late George J. and Eva Mae (Ballew) Morgan. As an adult, Bettie lived in Morrilton, Arkansas before relocating to Winter Haven in 2004, where she attended the First Baptist Church. She was a homemaker and a devoted wife and mother to her two children.
Bettie leaves behind a loving family to cherish her memory: her husband, Dr. Ben Bates, Jr. of Winter Haven; a son: Dr. Carey Bates and his wife, Lynne of Orlando; a daughter: Dodie Davis and her husband, Dr. Walter Davis of Lynchburg, VA; six grandchildren: Beth Ann Bard, Bettie Diane Davis, Walter Davis, Jr., Heather Casey, Hollie Benjumea, and Hudson Bates; and eight great-grandchildren: Levi Bard, Liam Bard, Jackson Mayhew, Gwyn Davis, Drake Davis, Reeslyn Davis, Holloway Bates, and Cassie Benjumea.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, International Mission Board, (imb.org or P.O. 6767, Richmond, VA 23230)
Prayers for the family at this time. May Gos bless you and keep you strong.
Our Thoughts and Prayers for all the Family. Bettie was a wonderful, sweet Lady. We will miss her phone calls, her hugs and her smiles!!! God Bless each one!
Dr. Ben, my prayers are with you dear friend as you say so long to Bettie. You are such an inspiration to me and one of my heroes. I love you brother and pray for God’s grace to be sufficient for you and your family.
Bettie was a beautiful, dear friend, that I will truly miss. My prayer are with you all for comfort and peace.
My deepest sympathy to all of the Bates family. Mrs Bates was one of the sweetest ladies I have ever known ! Thoughts are prayers are with you, Dr. Ben and you, sweet Dodie and with you my dear friend Carey and with all of your families! I pray for each of you during this time and for the days to come !
She was such a sweet lady. I’ll miss her sweet smile!
My heart goes out to each of you in the loss of your loved one. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I pray for peace and comfort in the coming days,as you learn that life is different now.
God Bless each of you
Dianne Davis
Praying for you all during these days, that God’s strength will be manifest for you all.
Sending prayers if God’s loving comfort to Dr. Ben and all the family. Ms. Bettie is now our loving Guardian Angel
Please accept our sincere condolences regarding your recent loss. With love and uplifting Prayers, Lynn and Wade
Dodie we are so sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. We pray for God’s comfort, strength and peace for you and all the family. We have been down this road and it’s not an easy one, but God’s grace will see you through. Love and prayers, Butch and Rose
Precious Family of Bettie Bates,
Our prayers and heartfelt sympathies are with you. Bettie is a dear sweet, kind servant of Christ & she is with Him in peace now. We look forward to the time we shall all be with our Christ Jesus for eternity & to see Bettie again.
We pray for your comfort, as she will be so missed here. God Bless You & Keep Each One of You in His Loving Care.
The Brian Doyle Family
Sorry for your loss. Your family is in our prayers!!
Our deepest condolences to you Dodie and your family! Your Lynchburg family are praying for you!
Condolences, thoughts and prayers to Dr. Bates, Dodie and Carey. May God Bless you and walk you through these difficult times.
Love and prayers to you all. Bro Ben, Dodie and Carey , I pray the Lord will give you strength during your time of loss. I know He will comfort you as only He is able to do. Bettie, as you very well know, was an inspiration to the world. Her kind and tender spirit will be missed dearly. Heaven just received an earthy saint. May your hearts be filled with the joy of knowing you will join Bettie one day on high to Praise our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! God Bless all of the Bettie Bates Family.
Bro. Ben, you and you family are in our thoughts and prayers. We remember the good times with ‘our group’ in Morrilton. Miss those days. God bless you! We love you. Sonny and Judy
I have prayed for you and will continue to do so as you face the days ahead. You were at my side within
about two hours after Fred Mason died. You had just gone back to bed with a headache,, but you came
immedialy to the Bryants to pray with me and my family. You and Bettie gave the kind of loving support
that I so needed at the time; she would call me at work to invite me to come have beans with you-all at
your house. That was truly a welcome invitation
We saw on face book where Dodie had posted. We are so sorry for your loss, but we know where Bettie is and we cherish the memories we have with her and family. Especially when in Jacksonville, Ark. and also from that day till now. We hope to keep in touch with you all. We love you and your family.
I called Lottie Dennie Langford in Heber Springs and let her know.
We had the pleasure of being her Decaon. We will miss her dearly. We loved her so much. Our prayers go out to Dr
Ben Bates family. My God Bless your family.
Your Arizona family is praying for you and grieving with you. Thank God for the Blessed Hope of a future reunion with your sweet Bettie. We love you, Ben.
Ted and Judi Roe
Dearest Benny
So very saddened to hear of Bettie’s home-going today. I love you and my prayers are certainly going up for you and your dear family. Bettie was truly one of a kind. Remembering her Mom and Dad so well. Uncle George and Aunt Mae….many fond memories in years past. I love you Benny…and am praying for all of you at this time and the days ahead. Dick and Joyce (Whitaker) Brown, AZ
Thinking of you and saying prayers. Such sweet memories of knowing you and Betty thru the years. Take care of yourself and give Carey and Dodie my condolences. I enjoy your facebook posts. Jewel