Mildred Farner Bates, 94, of Reliance, TN, died on Thursday, January 23, 2014 at her residence.
Born on March 25, 1919 to the late John and Laura Farner, she was the eldest of twelve children. She was the eldest member of Servilla Baptist Church and “Granny” to all.
She was preceded in death by her husband Noah Bates; sons Arnold and Charlie Bates; daughter, Bonnie Bates Tallant; grandson, Danny Kirkland; granddaughters, Karen Kirkland and Rosemary Bates; brothers, Leslie, Wesley and Johnny Farner; sisters, Louise “Loulie” Cheatham, Onibee Ledford, Vedie Dockery and Alzbee Farner; and a daughter-in-law, Sophie Bates.
She is survived by her sons, Raymond Bates and his wife Ethel “Squeak” and Mark Bates and his wife Mondella of Reliance; daughters Rose Byrd of Dalton, Willine Martin and her husband Hoyt of Reliance and Donna Martinez and her husband Santiago of Cleveland; grandsons, Randall Bates and his wife Faye, Mike Barnes and Ricky Barnes and his wife Denise; granddaughters, Kathleen Lillard and her husband Kevin, Shelia Bates, Kathy Barnes, Pam Stanley and her husband Mike and Carla Herron; brothers, R.L. Farner and his wife Irene of Dalton, Fred Farner and his wife Ivadell of Maryville and Paul Farner and his wife JoAnn of Rocky Face; sister, Mary Hamby of Tellico Plains; daughter-in-law, Betty Gay; sisters-in-law, Juanita and Lila Farner; and several great and great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
A Remembrance of Life service will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, January 25 at the Wildwood Chapel of the Jim Rush Funeral Homes with Rev. Steve Dills and Rev. Scott Hale officiating.
The interment service will be held 11 a.m. Sunday, January 26 at the Bates Cemetery in Greasy Creek with Randall Bates, Mark Bates, Mike Barnes, Joshua Lillard, Zachery Lillard and Noah Brown serving as casket bearers.
The family will receive friends Saturday, January 25 from 5 p.m. until the service time at the Jim Rush Funeral Home who has charge of the arrangements.