Helen Sue Bates

Sue was the Valedictorian of the Kinston High School Class of 1945 and graduated from St. Margaret’s School of Nursing in 1948. For more than 40 years, she worked as a Registered Nurse at St. Margaret’s Hospital and the Veteran Administration Hospital in Montgomery. Not only was Sue a professional nurse, she was also the loving caregiver and matriarch for her entire family. While at St. Margaret’s, Sue joined Highland Avenue Baptist Church where she and husband David were faithful and active long time members.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David A. Bates to whom she was married for 46 years; her parents William J. and Lela Ward Donaldson; and five siblings, Lucille, Malcolm, Maurice, Clara and Lafell.

She is survived by her son, Alan (Marijane) Bates of Suwanee, Georgia; one niece, Kay Stephens (Dwayne) Barnett of Springville, Al; and two nephews, Harvey “Pete” (Judy) Donaldson of Marietta, Ga and Michael (Miriam) Stephens of Kinston, Al.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, January 18, 2016 at Leak Memory Chapel followed by the burial at Greenwood Serenity Cemetery. The family will begin accept friends at 12:00 noon, prior to the service. Leak Memory Chapel is directing.