R. T. Bates Jr.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at Saulters Moore Funeral Chapel in Prentiss, MS for Mr. R. T. Bates Jr., age 63, of Carson, MS who passed away Sunday, March 15, 2009 at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, MS. Internment followed at the Bates Family Cemetery in Carson, MS. Rev. Ken Roberts officiated. Mr. Bates was born in Jefferson Davis County, MS on May 5, 1945, and was the son of Rufus Talmadge Bates, Sr. and Oddie Skinner Bates. He was a farmer. He was of the Baptist faith. He is survived by his wife, Doris Bates of Carson; a daughter, Johnnie Bates of Carson; two sons, R. T. Bates III and wife Mary of Magee and Joseph Bates of Carson; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren; three brothers, Jessie Bates and Tommy Bates both of Carson, Michael Bates of Pinola; and four sisters, Wendy Fairchild of Hattiesburg, Betty Brown Fant of Prentiss, Darnell Parker of Pinola and Elizabeth Dunaway of Robin Hood, MS. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Billy R. Bates Sr. and Lelty Bates.