Birdie Irene Bates

Funeral service for Mrs. Bates will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at 2 p.m. at McConnell Memorial Chapel with Bud White officiating. Burial will be in Limestone Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Saturday from 12 – 1:45 p.m. at McConnell Funeral Home.

Mrs. Bates retired from Athens Lingerie. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Hubert Bates, one son, Thomas Bates, four brothers, C.T. Robinson Estel Robinson, Billy Robinson, and Jack Robinson, one sister, Violet Edgeman, one grandson, Eric Bates, one granddaughter, Kelly Smith, one great-grandson, Jackson Holt, and one son-in-law, Hal Miller.

She is survived by five daughters, Betty Jean LeCroix, Jane Smith, Patricia (Pat) Jeffreys, Elaine Reece, and Paulette Bates Miller, Two sisters, Betty Lou Turner, and Hazel Smith, Ten grandchildren, Greg LeCroix, Melissa LeCroix, Mark Bates, Lila Bates, Brandy Moyer, Tracy Jeffreys Byrd, Lynn Reece Malone, Jai Reece, Hew Miller Thigpen, and Holly Miller Wood, Eleven great-grandchildren, Jacob LeCroix, Blayne Bates, Tristian Byrd, Lauren Byrd, Garet Byrd, Presley Holt, Calen Reece, Darby Thigpen, Andi Thigpen, Trent Wood, and Charlie Wood.

Pallbearers will be Mark Bates, Jai Reece, Jerry Reece, Jimmy Jeffreys, David Malone, Jesse Wood, and Chris Thigpen.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby LeCroix and Syd Smith.