James “Jim” V. Bates, Jr., 86, of Petal, passed away on Friday, May 15, 2020, at Merit Health Wesley Hospital in Hattiesburg, MS. Funeral services for James will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at the Petal Chapel of Moore Funeral Home with a visitation starting at 9:30 a.m. until service time on Tuesday. His interment will be in Biloxi National Cemetery later date.
James loved his church. He was a member of Alamo Christian Fellowship in San Antonio, TX until he moved to Petal, MS and became involved with New Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church. He loved to attend church with his brothers, and loved all of the old church songs, and his church family. He could not remember the names but you can be most assured he loved each and everyone. Just as the ones that helped take care of him. He could not remember their names, it was those girls. Make no mistake; he loved each and every one of them. He attended First Baptist Church of Glendale, Vision Baptist Church, and finally, his home church, New Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church.
James was very patriotic. He served in the U.S. Army for seventeen years and four years in the U. S. Air Force and retired in 1977 after twenty-one years of service to his Country during which time he served in the Korean War and Viet Nam War. While stationed in Georgia, he stole a Georgia peach, Sara Lee, to be his partner for life. She was a very good cook and Sara Lee brand food could not compete with her cooking. He loved the life style of military life and the honor to wear the uniform and medals. James then joined the Texas Department of Transportation and settled down in San Antonio, TX. He loved the western culture, his boots, belts and suits. In 2013 his wife passed and he desired to return to Mississippi to spend the rest of his life with his brothers. We all know his real desire was to go to his real home in Heaven to be with his wife Sara and his Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
James led a simple life style. He loved fishing, playing cards with his brothers, and watching old westerns. He and Sara never left the life style of the 1950’s. When he went to church, he felt all should wear suits. This he shared with his short sleeve wearing brothers. He did not care for technology such as computers, cell phones, microwaves. James loved hot weather. If the temperature was below 85 degrees, he said he was freezing. No one could or can grow vegetables and flowers better than James. He just liked to work outside. In fact, he loved to just work. It was like a death sentence when he was told he could not play in the dirt anymore. Now James you can play in the dirt (gardening) all you want. Thank you God for this short time we had with this precious man.
James is survived by his five brothers, John David “JD” (Jonnie) Bates of the Glendale Community, Andrew Thompkins “Tommy” (Mae) Bates of Petal, Donald Edward (Wanda) Bates of Petal, Elliot Bythel Bates of Rawls Springs, Larry Turner (Iddie) Bates of the Sunrise Community; brother-in-law, Mike Miller of Moselle; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sara Ellis Bates; parents, James V. Bates, Sr. and Mary Vaughn Lee Bates; a sister, Annie Laurie Bates Miller; a sister-in-law, Nellie Hill Bates; and a nephew, Brandon Bates.
At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Gideon’s International.
