Obituary for Marria B. Bates
Surrounded by family in the comfort of her home, Marria Belle McKenzie Bates went home to be with the Lord on the morning of Tuesday, January 5, 2016. Marria was born in Dinwiddie, Virginia on March 21, 1933 to the late Levi & Lelia Ritchie McKenzie. Marria’s mother passed when she was only 10 years old, so she assumed the role of homemaker at a very tender age.
She received her education in the Dinwiddie Public School System. On December 26, 1950, Marria accepted Christ as her Lord & Savior and was baptized at Springfield Baptist Church.
She later married her lifelong love, John W. Bates, and moved to Amelia, Virginia. Of this union, five children were born: Thelma Louise, John Levi, Darrell Jerome Sr., Lydia Abigail, & Michael O’Brien. Marria later joined the Branches Runn Baptist Church where she served faithfully on the Senior Choir, Hospitality Ministry, Celestial Chorus, & Missionary Ministry until her health began to decline.
She loved cooking, fishing, sewing, family, & friends.
Her parents & siblings, Lucille Couch, Levi, Robert, & Joe McKenzie, all preceded her in death. She leaves to cherish her sweet memory: Loving husband of 65 years, John; sons Darrell Sr. (Deborah), John L.(Anna Marie), & Michael (Angela); Daughters Thelma & Lydia; Grandchildren, that she dearly loved & prayed for, Shalise Bates-Pratt (Damon), Demetria, Monique, Darrell Jr., & Ericka Bates, Tiara Jones, & Linnard (J.R.) Harris, & cherished great-grandchildren Zion, Kennedy (deceased), & Noah; brother-in-law, James; & sisters-in-law, Ella Crayton, Yvonne Bates, & Laura (John) Hawkins. Marria also leaves behind many devoted family members such as cousins, Alice Williams& Martha Brown, who called her their “sister” & nephew James (BeBop) Couch. Friends, Queen Anderson & Rosa Matthews, also loved Marria. Finally, she had a host of adopted children & grandchildren including Rev. & Mrs. Earl Thompson, Rev.& Mrs. Howard Clay, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Jefferson, Jr., & Willie Royal III. She touched countless lives in so many ways that it is impossible to acknowledge each person who was special to her and her family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Branches Runn Baptist Church, 3830 Woodley Drive, Amelia, VA 23002.
The family will visit with friends at the funeral home on Friday, January 8 from 6 to 7 p.m.
Funeral Services Saturday, January 9 at 11:00 a.m. at Branches Runn Baptist Church, Amelia with interment to follow in the church cemetery.
Michael W. Hawkes Funeral Home of Amelia in charge of arrangements.
The family will visit with friends at the funeral home on Friday, January 8, 2016 from 6 to 7 p.m.
Funeral Services Saturday, January 9, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Branches Runn Baptist Church, Amelia with interment to follow in the church cemetery.
Michael W. Hawkes Funeral Home of Amelia in charge of arrangements.
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She received her education in the Dinwiddie Public School System. On December 26, 1950, Marria accepted Christ as her Lord & Savior and was baptized at Springfield Baptist Church.
She later married her lifelong love, John W. Bates, and moved to Amelia, Virginia. Of this union, five children were born: Thelma Louise, John Levi, Darrell Jerome Sr., Lydia Abigail, & Michael O’Brien. Marria later joined the Branches Runn Baptist Church where she served faithfully on the Senior Choir, Hospitality Ministry, Celestial Chorus, & Missionary Ministry until her health began to decline.
She loved cooking, fishing, sewing, family, & friends.
Her parents & siblings, Lucille Couch, Levi, Robert, & Joe McKenzie, all preceded her in death. She leaves to cherish her sweet memory: Loving husband of 65 years, John; sons Darrell Sr. (Deborah), John L.(Anna Marie), & Michael (Angela); Daughters Thelma & Lydia; Grandchildren, that she dearly loved & prayed for, Shalise Bates-Pratt (Damon), Demetria, Monique, Darrell Jr., & Ericka Bates, Tiara Jones, & Linnard (J.R.) Harris, & cherished great-grandchildren Zion, Kennedy (deceased), & Noah; brother-in-law, James; & sisters-in-law, Ella Crayton, Yvonne Bates, & Laura (John) Hawkins. Marria also leaves behind many devoted family members such as cousins, Alice Williams& Martha Brown, who called her their “sister” & nephew James (BeBop) Couch. Friends, Queen Anderson & Rosa Matthews, also loved Marria. Finally, she had a host of adopted children & grandchildren including Rev. & Mrs. Earl Thompson, Rev.& Mrs. Howard Clay, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Jefferson, Jr., & Willie Royal III. She touched countless lives in so many ways that it is impossible to acknowledge each person who was special to her and her family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Branches Runn Baptist Church, 3830 Woodley Drive, Amelia, VA 23002.
The family will visit with friends at the funeral home on Friday, January 8 from 6 to 7 p.m.
Funeral Services Saturday, January 9 at 11:00 a.m. at Branches Runn Baptist Church, Amelia with interment to follow in the church cemetery.
Michael W. Hawkes Funeral Home of Amelia in charge of arrangements.
The family will visit with friends at the funeral home on Friday, January 8, 2016 from 6 to 7 p.m.
Funeral Services Saturday, January 9, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Branches Runn Baptist Church, Amelia with interment to follow in the church cemetery.
Michael W. Hawkes Funeral Home of Amelia in charge of arrangements.
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