J. C. Cates

J. C. Cates, age 91, of Columbus, MS, passed away December 30, 2021, at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be Monday, January 3, 2022, at 10:00 AM at Memorial Gunter Peel Chapel 903 College St. location with Dave May officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until the time of the service. A graveside committal will be Monday, January 3, 2022, at 3:00 PM at Kidd Cemetery in Lawrenceburg, TN, with military honors with David Smith officiating. Mr. Cates met the love of his life and married Betty Lee Gatlin and they shared 48 wonderful years of marriage. They had three loving daughters, Jeanettia Box and her husband Bobby of Steens, MS, Judy Sansing and her husband Paul, Jr., of Caledonia, MS, and Wanda Murphy and her husband Tim of Caledonia, MS. Mr. Cates served his country proudly in the United States Army and the United States Air Force and worked civil service until he retired at the Columbus Air Force Base. He was a member of the Magnolia Church of Christ of Columbus. Mr. Cates was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Gatlin Cates, father, Ashford Cates, mother, Mae Wade Cates, and sister, Eron Moore. In addition to his daughters, survivors include his wife, Romelle Cates of Okolona, MS, a very special, loving, and caring person, grandchildren, Kelly Frady (Mark), Bradley Box (Kerry), Wesley Box (Candace), Joshua L. Sansing (Tori), Jessica Rochester (Micah), and Jarrett Shands (Autumn), great grandchildren, Shelbi & Ethan Box, Reese & Reed Frady, Memphis Box, Presley Shands, and Harlyn Rochester, and step great grandchildren, Virgil Hawkins, and Jackson & Troy Sullivan. Pallbearers will be Bradley Box, Wesley Box, Jarrett Shands, Joshua L. Sansing, Reed Frady, and Ethan Box. Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Frady and Micah Rochester. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105. Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.