Christine Bates

Christine Bates was born April 4, 1926 in Forest, Mississippi, to Wardell and Zell Amis.She was the eldest of five children born to this union. Her father died when she was an earlyteenager. Zell later married Cleve Thrash, along with his two daughters, Clevamae and Georgiathere was a son born, Willie Charles Thrash to that union. Christine spent her early life inMississippi, she married Arthur (A. J.) Bates, and there were 4 sons born to this union.

 Thesecond son living only 2 weeks. In the early 50’s Christine and A. J. migrated to Indianapolisand remained there for the rest of their lives. Christine accepted Christ at an early age, andbecame a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, under Pastor F. Harvey Moore.She remained a faithful member, until her health prevented her regular worship. In the

last years of her life, she attended Community Life Line Christian Church. She was loved byPastor James Johnson and the Mt. Calvary and Community Life Line families.   Christineworked hard as a “Domestic” worker, until 1968, when she was struck by a car on her way towork. She became mother to her Grandson, Raymond Bates and her niece, Paula Pace, RobertAllen and Willie Worley. She also became a surrogate mother to many nieces and nephews and cousins; Loved by them all. Everyone knew when they visited the Bates home that Christine

either had great food prepared, or she would fix something good! She touched so many liveswith her loving personality, and will be greatly missed by so many family members and friends.  It’s difficult to name everyone. However, James (Cookie) Ratcliffe and Henry Hicks, are two ofthose who have been in the Bates family all of their lives.   

Christine was preceded in death by her parents and her husband A. J. Bates, brothers WardellAmis, William Amis, her sisters, Georgia Lee Gatewood, and by 1-2 hours, Overa Pace, son, William James Bates (Peggy Bates), granddaughters, Carmella Bates, Tasha Bates and many other relatives. Christine is survived by Sister, Clevamae Johnson, Brothers, Gilbert Amis and Willie Charles Thrash, sons, Garry (Delois) Bates, Larry Cynthia) Bates, Raymond Bates,Grandchildren; Leslie Carol Bates, Torrey Miller, Shawntel Thornton, Desmond Gray, ChrisBates, Lauren Bates, Whitney Bates, Kyle Bates, Jonita Thomas, LeVon R. Bates, ChristinaMarie Bates, and a host of Great and Great-Great grandchildren.