W. J. Bates

Services for W. J. Bates will be held Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at 1 p.m. from McClain-Hays Chapel with Dr. Billy James and Rev. Lawrence Runnels officiating.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5:00-8:00 p.m.  Burial will follow in Bethsaida Cemetery in Neshoba County. Mr. Bates, 83, died Monday, March 12, 2018, at his home.  He was a native and longtime resident of Neshoba County and co-owner of B & G Equipment, Inc.  He was also co-founder and former partner of B & G Wood Products. Mr. Bates was a member of Bethsaida Baptist Church where he had served as Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and served on the cemetery and finance committees.  He was a member and former board member of the Mississippi Forestry Association and the Neshoba County Forestry Association.  He was a past Rotary Club member and Paul Harris Fellow. Survivors include children, Doug Bates (Cynthia), Debbie Webb (Stan), Tammy Lee (Jeff), all of Philadelphia, and Melissa Kelley (Rodney) of Petal, MS; grandchildren, Brandi Smith (Jessie), Matt Bates (Reagan) of Hattiesburg; Justin Webb (Mandy), Chris Webb (Kristen), Kade Webb (Meghan), Richard Lee (Robbyn), Hannah Johnson (Allen), Chelsae Kelley of Brandon, MS, Lindsey Kelley of Hattiesburg; great-grandchildren, Kooper Smith, Kadence Smith, Carter Bates, Connor Webb, Cameron Webb, Brayden Webb, Bennett Webb, Kyndall Lee, Karoline Lee, Beckett Johnson and Emmi Johnson; and a host of nieces and nephews and their families. Mr. Bates was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Carolyn Jayroe Bates; parents, Virgil M. Bates and Norma Carter Bates; and sister, Mary Annie Bates Musgrove. Pallbearers are Justin Webb, Chris Webb, Kade Webb, Richard Lee, Jessie Smith, Matt Bates, Allen Johnson and Chad Grantham. In lieu of flowers family requests memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Blair E. Batson Hospital For Children, or favorite charity.