Jewel Bates

Mrs. Jewel Bates, age 85, a resident of Morton passed away at her home on Wednesday, February 16, 2022.  Visitation will be held 5-8pm Friday, February 18, 2022 at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Morton.  Visitation will also be held 10am-10:45am Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Leesburg Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.  Bro. Byron Howell, Bro. Geary Walton and Bro. T.J. Bates will officiate the services.  Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Morton.

Mrs. Bates was born in Rankin County on February 24, 1936.  She worked as a Secretary for many years in the Rankin County School District.  Jewel loved to quilt and spend time with her family.  She loved being outdoors working in her garden and her flowers.  Jewel worked 20 plus years as President of the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Department.  She and her husband were one of the first ones to start the fire department for the community.  Jewel loved her family very much and her grandchildren were the apple of her eye.  But she had a fur baby by the name of, Molly that was her best friend. She will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew her.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Paul Bates; parents, Edward Lee Wilson and Sallie Mae Bates Wilson and brother, Sam Wilson.

She is survived by her children, Eddie Bates and wife Lori of Leesburg and Carol Palmer Koerber  and husband, George of Brandon; 6 grandchildren, T.J. Bates (Courtney), Chris Bates (Kay), Keri Myers (Jo), Clay Bates (Casey), Abby Grace Thornton (Jacob) and James Michael Palmer III (Emily); a host of other family and many friends.

Pallbearers will be T.J. Bates, Chris Bates, Clay Bates, Jacob Thornton, James Michael Palmer III and Tony King.  Honorary pallbearers will be the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Dept.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Leesburg Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.