Jimmy Ray Bates

Jimmy Ray Bates of Lexington, 78, passed away on Sunday, July 5, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at Lighthouse Baptist Church with Pastors Avery Varnadore and Charles Churchill officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, at the church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Jimmy was born on January 12, 1942 in Davidson County to Lotus Ward Bates and Susie Thomason Bates.  He attended college at Tennessee Temple University and was self-employed as a painting contractor. Jimmy was a member of Lighthouse Baptist Church.  He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Leon Bates and Bryce Bates.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Barbara Bates; his son, Shannon Ray Bates (Patti) of Welcome; his daughter, Mendy Kelly Bates of Welcome; two grandchildren, Sara Bates Cagle (Andrew) and Cameron Bates; brother, Claude Bates of Welcome; sister, Angela Bates; sister-in-law, Sue Bates; sister-in-law, Billie Craver (Jim); nieces, Tina Brinkley and Stephanie Long; nephews, Gary Bates (Debbie) and Chad Craver; and special friends, Tammy and Miranda Moore.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Gideons International-Lexington Camp, PO Box 285, Lexington, NC  27293

Davidson Funeral Home, Hickory Tree Chapel is serving the Bates family.

Online condolences may be made at www.davidsonfuneralhome.net