Obituaries

Kathleen Swinford Bates

Photo of Kathleen Swinford Bates
Kathleen Swinford Bates, 85, of Woodlawn, died Friday, January 4, 2013. She was born January 22, 1927 in Austin, Arkansas, daughter of Robert Lee and Ida Virginia Weeks Swinford. Mrs. Bates was a member of First Baptist Church of Altheimer and a homemaker. She was rebaptized at Redfield United Pentecostal Church. Mrs. Bates was preceded in death by her husband, John Lester Bates, Sr., whom she married August 22, 1944; her parents; brother, Robert Lee Swinford Jr.; and two sisters, Opal Spradlin and Alma Swinford. Survivors include six sons, Jimmy Bates of Queens, New York, Gerald (Linda Kay) Bates of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Johnny (Carolyn) Bates, Jr. of White Hall, Charles (Kay) Bates of Woodlawn, Ronnie (Nancy) Bates of Pine Bluff and Donald (Tami) Bates of Sheridan; two daughters, Virginia (Jerry) Benson of Pine Bluff and Debbie (George) Mulherin of Wynne; 19 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services in Pine Bluff will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 9, 2013 in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son with Reverend Phillip Hedden officiating. Funeral services in Cabot will be 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mountain Springs Baptist Church with Brother Mike Ball officiating Burial will follow in Mountain Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Robinson's in Pine Bluff. The family will be at the home of Charles Bates, 350 Norton Road in Woodlawn. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Published January 8, 2013

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