Nelle Belk Bates

MINT HILL – Nelle Belk Bates, 88, passed away on Sunday, December 02, 2012, at home. She was born on September 7, 1924, in Charlotte, NC,and was the daughter of the late Bessie Seymour Belk and Hoyle Roosevelt Belk. Nelle was married to the late James Jewel Bates for 55 years. They became residents of Mint Hill in 1956.

Nelle is survived by her daughters & sons-in-law Linda Osborne of Stallings, NC: Barbara & William Keesler of Mint Hill, NC; Sandy & Stan Powell of Inman, SC; and Carole & John Barnhardt of Grover, NC. She is also survived by grandchildren Jeff Osborne (Pam), Mark Osborne (Jamie), Lori Osborne, Phil Keesler (Laraine), David Keesler (Anne), Dana Pate, Erin Powell, Chris Powell, Kimberly Hedrick (Robert), Adam Barnhardt (Heather), 11 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. Nelle is also survived by her only sister Betty Wallace (Woodley) of Huntersville, NC .

Nelle was a homemaker, an excellent cook, an avid gardener, and a very snappy dresser. She enjoyed Nascar (especially Jeff Gordon) and the Carolina Panthers. Her favorite pastime was traveling. Nelle and Jim traveled to almost every state in the US. One of the highlights of their travels was a 6-week motorhome trip to Alaska. In 2007 she treated her four daughters to an Alaskan cruise which the five of them enjoyed tremendously. She also loved to travel with her sister Betty and their two best friends Mickey Griffin and Nancy Lindley. They especially enjoyed their annual fall trips to Pigeon Forge, TN where they would shop to their hearts’ content.

The family will be forever grateful to Nelle’s caregivers Minnie Hill, Peggy Polson, Ann Austin, and Laraine Keesler for their loving care and concern.

Visitation for Nelle will be held at McEwen Mint Hill Chapel on Monday, December 3, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00pm. A service to celebrate her life will be held at Mint Hill Baptist Church on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 1:30pm with the Rev. Lee Proctor officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memory Gardens. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Nelle will be forever remembered for her generous spirit, her charity, her sense of humor, and her love for family and friends.

Memorials may be made in Nelle’s memory to Mint Hill Baptist Church, 7835 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd., Charlotte, NC 28227, or to Mint Hill Fire & Rescue, 8313 Fairview Rd., Mint Hill, NC 28227. Online condolences may be left at www.mcewenminthillchapel.com.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” I Corinthians 2:9