L’jeanne Young Bates was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 5, 1976, to the late Raymond R. Young, Sr., and Hilda Wing Young. She went to her eternal reward on November 6, 2022, at the age of forty-five. L’jeanne had a magical childhood and shared a special bond with her sister. She grew up surrounded by cousins and family and enjoyed many family vacations. While growing up, the Christmas season was a particularly special time for L’jeanne. Every year her parents made sure to get the tree and put up the Christmas decorations for her birthday party.
L’jeanne attended St. John and St. Stephen’s Elementary Schools. She graduated from Redeemer-Seton Academy High School in 1995. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from Xavier University of New Orleans in 1999. L’jeanne worked in communications and marketing for over 20 years. She worked at the Audubon Nature Institute for 13 years and developed many successful advertising campaigns as Marketing Manager. She also worked at WVUE-TV, Clear Channel Radio, Citadel Broadcasting, and McCann Erickson LCI.
L’jeanne was a life-long member of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church where she was baptized, made her confirmation, served as an acolyte, and went to many youth conferences. She lived with gratitude for the blessings in her life and had an unwavering faith in God.
L’jeanne met the love of her life, Ravi John Bates, and they were married on March 27, 2004. Welcoming her first child, Payton Jillian Bates, into the world in 2007 was one of her greatest life experiences. A year later she would have her boy, Colin Robert Bates. By 2012, she would complete her family with a baby girl, Carson Elizabeth Bates. Nothing gave her greater joy or contentment than her three children. She loved doing the little things like dropping them off and picking them up from school, preparing dinner each night, and tucking the kids in and saying prayers at bedtime. She loved kissing her youngest, Carson, goodnight. She was a doting mother.
L’jeanne had a passion for dance and the arts that began in the late 1980’s at Syrell’s School of Dance. It was at Syrell’s that L’jeanne met her lifelong sister-friends. At Syrell’s, she and her dance group won many national dance competitions. L’jeanne was selected to perform in the Aloha Bowl in Hawaii in 1994. L’jeanne danced as part of the New Orleans Rhythm and Jazz Ensemble under the artistic direction of Syrell Daniel. The dance group performed in many places for many audiences, including a Peabo Bryson concert and Bob McGrath’s Sesame Street Live. The friendships and bond L’jeanne formed remain today.
L’jeanne wore many hats. She was the event planner, driver, restaurant check splitter, party hostess, and birthday card designer, to name a few. The “friend” group would meet for every birthday and most of the time L’jeanne would coordinate or plan it.
L’jeanne had many gifts, but her gentle, calm, fun-loving, easy-going spirit is what endeared and drew people to her most. L’jeanne was the definition of never let them see you sweat. Her feathers were never ruffled.
L’jeanne is survived by her husband, Ravi John Bates; daughter, Payton Jillian Bates; son, Colin Robert Bates; daughter, Carson Elizabeth Bates; mother, Hilda W. Young; brothers, Raymond Young, Jr. and Knyle “Chris” Young; sister, Angele Young Boutte (Corey); mother-in-law, Evola Christophe Bates; brothers-in-law, Rashi Bates (Karmen) and Ryan Bates (Marcia); sister-in-law, Candice Bates Anderson (Aaron), as well as a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends.
L’jeanne was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Young, Sr.; father-in-law, Robert Bates, Jr.; grandfather, Herbert H. Wing; grandmother, Mildred Wing; grandmother, Laura McCarthy Turner; grandfather, Wallace Young, Sr.; aunt, Betty Ann Miller; and uncle, Wallace Young, Jr.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service at First English Lutheran Church, 3701 Cleary Ave. in Metairie, Louisiana, on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 10:00AM. A visitation will be held at the church beginning at 8:00AM. The interment will follow the service at Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum.
To view and sign the online guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com
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