Faith Dale Bates' Funeral Program

A Time to Be Born: Faith Dale Bates was born on August 20, 1956, to Fred Hicks and Mary Ann Bates.  He was raised by his stepfather, Mr. Charley McCallister.   A Time to Worship: Faith (Captain Bates) accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age.  He united with Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church and faithfully served there until God called him home.

A Time to Work: Captain Bates was a man of action who believed in honoring his commitments to his family, friends and community.  His pursuit of excellence made him an excellent  leader who excelled as an employee of The Mississippi Department of Corrections.  Captain Bates retired from the Mississippi  Department of Corrections after 28 years of service.  He continued in the area of law enforcement after retirement and ultimately became a successful entrepreneur partnering with Ms. Vera to establish a lawn care service.

A Time To Love: In 1977, Captain Bates  was united in Holy Matrimony to Evera Marie Thigpen.  God blessed this union with five beautiful, amazing children: Derrick, Lakeshia, Kenneth, Maurice, and Mary.  Dale and Vera spent their lives building a loving, secure home for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to serving God at home, the two faithfully served at Pilgrim Rest and  looked for opportunities to give back to the community in tangible ways.

A Time to Laugh: Captain Bates  enjoyed life.  He appeared serious but was always ready to give words of encouragement to those who needed them.  His sense of humor was always laced with a bit of truth, which always served to teach a lesson, while making you smile.

A Time to Die: Captain Bates departed this life on May 14, 2024, at Simpson General Hospital.

A Time to Mourn: Captain Bates leaves to cherish his memories—his loving, devoted wife of 46 years, Evera Marie Bates, four children, Derrick  Bates of  Tacoma, Washington, Kenneth (Tracy) Bates, Maurice (Myesha) Bates, and Mary (Demorse) Buckley, all of D'Lo, Mississippi; two brothers, Charlie McCallister of Pontotoc, Mississippi and  Carl (Letrenda) McCallister of Ecru, Mississippi; one sister, Margaret (Gregory) Hill of Jackson, Mississippi; mother-in-law, Annie B. Thigpen; four brothers-in-law, Edward (Maria) Thigpen, Jr., John (Dorothy) Thigpen, Harvey (Dottie) Thigpen, and Tony Thigpen; four sisters-in-law, Barbara Barber, Ella Thigpen, Shelia (Willie) Porter,  and Barbara Seals, all of Drew, Mississippi; 13 grandchildren, three great grandchildren;  and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Dale  is preceded in death by his parents, Fred Hicks and Mary Bates; his stepfather, Charley  McCallister; his daughter, Lakeshia Bates; and his brother, Roy Lee Seals.