Deaconess Catherine E. Bates

February 25, 1923        March 13, 2019

"I have been young and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread"….Psalm 37:25

Catherine Elizabeth Childs Bates, the oldest of six children born to the late Percy Hampton Childs, Sr. and Sallie Perry Beverly Childs, slipped quietly into eternal rest at her home in Woodford, Virginia.

Catherine was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Two favorite first cousins, Sylvia Marie and Pedro Lorenzo Cabeza, joined their family as toddlers making a total of eight children in the Childs household. A resident of Caroline County since she was about 6 months old, she attended St. James Elementary School and graduated from Union High School, Bowling Green, Virginia in 1939 at the age of 16 ranking third academically in her class.

She was baptized at a very early age and became a member of St. James Baptist Church, DeJarnette under the pastorate of the late Rev. E. L. R. Guss and was very active at St. James in her youth.

On June 7, 1947, she entered into holy matrimony with Floyd Elwood Bates. They were blessed with four children—Calvin Childs, Vernell, Margie, and LaVerne.

After her marriage to the late Deacon Floyd Bates, she became a regular attendee of First Baptist Church. She taught the adult Sunday School class, sang on the Senior Choir, was a member of the Missionary Circle, and maintained the communion set and linens. She moved her membership, by letter, to FBC in 1960 and remained an active member until her death. In addition to activities listed above, she served as Sunday School Superintendent, was President of the Missionary Circle, and was a member of the Flower Club, Pastor's Aide Club and the Women's Ministry (WOW). Even though she was not physically able to attend services (after Homecoming 2018) she never failed to send her tithes and offerings every month. She was consecrated as a Deaconess under the pastorate of Rev. Louis T. W. Jackson and has served faithfully since.

She looked forward to attending the Mattaponi Baptist Association's Annual Sessions each year, especially the Women's Missionary and Education Convention where she at one time served as Corresponding Secretary.

Professionally, after working as a cook at "Mrs. Bodine's" hotel in Bowling Green, being a stay-at-home wife, substitute teaching at Guinea School and doing domestic work in Fredericksburg, she enjoyed 19 plus years of employment for Caroline County Public Schools as a bus driver retiring in 1985. She loved to sew and was a wonderful cook. Her sweet potato pies, seven day pickles, fruit cake, and potato salad were favorites to many. She had a green thumb and loved to work in her yard. It is no coincidence that the jonquils in her yard were seen blooming on the day of her death.

She was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, friend, role model, peacemaker, confidant, and often served as surrogate mother to the neighborhood children.   If you couldn't get along with her, you would not be able to get along with anybody.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by her beloved son: Calvin (Ludie) and siblings: Kenneth, Edith, Gwendolyn, and William B. B.

She leaves to cherish her memory three daughters: Vernell Frenzley (Willie); Margie French (Frankie); and LaVerne Coghill (Taft, Sr.); daughter-in-law, Annie M. Childs; five grandchildren: Kimberly Black (Cornelius); Monica French; Alicia Wilkerson (Ervin); David Carter; and Nicole Armstrong (Steve, Jr.); six great-grandchildren: Jasen, Makayla, Kori, Jordyn, Morgan, and Christopher; two brothers: Percy Childs, Jr. and Pedro Cabeza (Catherine) and one sister: Sylvia Marie Hoggard; and a host of other relatives, friends and the FBC Church Family.

A viewing will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at C.W. Edwards Funeral Home, 165476 Richmond Turnpike, Bowling Green, Virginia 22427. Family will be receiving friends from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March17, 2019 at First Baptist Church, 9262 Guinea Station Road, Woodford, Virginia 22580 with a viewing one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in The Guss Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to First Baptist Church Building Fund or The Guss Family Memorial Cemetery.