Bessie Moore Bates, 101, was born in Itawamba County, Miss. July 27, 1908 to Chester and Cora Lee Brown Moore. She passed away Saturday November 21, 2009 in Picayune.

Mrs. Bates and her husband reared their family in Columbus, Miss., where she taught Sunday school at the First Baptist Church for 50 years. In 1997, she moved to Picayune to be near her family. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to many.

She was preceded in death by: her husband, Paul Franklin Bates Sr.; parents, Chester and Cora Lee Brown Moore; a daughter, Nancy Lee Colquette; four brothers and three sisters.

Survivors include: a daughter, Mary Frances Reese-Sofio of Carriere; son, Paul Franklin Bates Jr. of Oakland, Maine; son-in-law, Ernie Colquette of Oldsmar, Fla.; brother, Charles Moore of Fulton, Miss.; grandchildren: Robert Reese and Paul Reese, both of Picayune, Jennye Case of Brandon, Miss., Thomas Reese of Daphne, Ala., Kelly Hanley of Wilmington, N.C., Philip Colquette of Denver, Colo., and Stephen Colquette of Mission Viejo, Calif.; 14 great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter; and a special niece, Patricia Moore Vaughan of Starkville, Miss.

The family wishes to express special thanks to Covenant Rehabilitation and Health Center and Magnolia Personal Care for their loving care over the last four years.

Local services will be held Friday, November 27, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the First Baptist Church of Picayune with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. in the church.

Services in Columbus are to be held Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 2 p.m. in the Columbus First Baptist Church with visitation beginning at 1 p.m. in the church

Interment will follow at the Friendship Cemetery in Columbus.

Memorials may be given to the First Baptist Church of Picayune, First Baptist Church of Columbus or the charity of your choice.

Obituary, register book, and driving directions can be found on the internet page, www.mcdonaldfh.com.