Mr. Willie James Bates
(June 13, 1951 - March 25, 2025)
Viewing Location: Leevy's Funeral Home, 1831 Taylor Street, Columbia, SC
Viewing Date & Time: Friday, April 4, 2025/ 2:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
Funeral Location: Lower Mt. Olive A. M. E. Church, 2532 Wheeland School Road, Prosperity, South Carolina
Funeral Date & Time: Saturday, April 5, 2025/ 12:00 NOON
Interment Location: Lower Mt. Olive A. M. E. Church Cemetery, 2532 Wheeland School Road, Prosperity, South Carolina
Mr. Fat you will be truly missed. I remember you driving the church bus and all the great memories and trips taken.
Mr. Willie was a childhood friend of my husband, James Arthur Hunter. Mr. Willie was a kind, gentle, hardworking man in the community and at his church.
My Sympathy and Condolences goes out
To The Family Of
Mr. Willie James Bates
You Surely Will Be Missed By Your
Your. Church Family And Friends
Mr. Willie Was A Faithful Member
Of Lower Mt.Olive Church
And The Senior Choir Sending Their Love to The Family!!
RIP !!! Mr.Willie.
My deepest condolences to the Bates Family. It saddens me to hear of his passing. It was a joy working with Mr. Willie. He was a such a humble person with a heart of gold. Rikard Head Start have many wonderful memories that we will cherish of him, and he will be truly missed. I pray strength and comfort at this time for the family.
My deepest condolences to the Bates family on the loss of Mr.Willie. May GOD grant you peace and comfort during this most difficult time.
I am deeply sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. Willie. He would always greet you with a big smile and share words of encouragement. It was a joy to work with him at Rikard Head Start. May the precious memories you shared give the family comfort and strength.
I met Mr. Willie, as he was affectionately called, when he was hired at the Rikard Head Start Center. He was a dedicated employee and a kind individual. Mr. Willie would go out of his way to help anyone. I recall the fun times we had teasing him at the center and seeing his smile. He truly had a heart filled with love. My condolences are extended to his family and friends. May God comfort you in this time of sorrow. You will definitely be missed, Mr. Willie.
My deepest condolences to the Bates family.
Mr. Willie was truly a wonderful and loving man and he will be missed. Rikard Head Start Family had some great times with Mr. Willie that we will treasure forever. I would love to hear his laugh and see that smile. Get your rest Mr. Willie.
Praying for strength to the family during this difficult time.
I will miss you Uncle Fats
Mr. Willie was a truly a wonderful man. A superb employee, kind and generous friend and a man of strong faith. He will be missed by his family and friends. Our prayers are with you all.
Geraldine Price on April 3,2025, Mr.willie you will be truly missed
I will cherish the memories working at Gleamns headstart. Praying for the family God will strengthen and not let you fall
My condolences to the Bates, God bless your family, we work at Newberry hospital, he would visit friends in the hospital 🏥, if he knew they were in the hospital, he would sit and talk, then ask if there’s anything they need just let him know, he was a very good person, but God wants good people also, you will be missed, God bless your family, rest in peace.
🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️💔💔💔💔man where do I start how do I start Unc I am definitely going to miss you, coming to Columbia will not be the same without me making a stop to see you. The moments we had I will always treasure, even in the beginning when all this happened 😢😢💔💔 you definitely showed how strong you was and how big of a fighter you were. Them ladies ain’t going to know what to do without you making them laughing when they would be caring for you. Unc you will forever be loved and definitely dearly missed. I am trying be strong but whew Unc it’s rough I love you always and forever and kno I got pops n bro 🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾💪🏾💪🏾🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. My condolences and may God keep you all in his care.
Our deepest sympathy and condolences and prayers to the family and relatives and friends.
Those we love don’t go away, They walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near, stilled loved, still missed and always dear. Family, my sincere condolences to the Bates family. Remember that beautiful smile that God gave Willie James. Rest In Peace.
My sweet angel the man I was proud to call my uncle you are really missed down here for real unc the laughing and jokes we had together the cutting grass every Saturday the times we spent together just going to Columbia and across the water those days I will cherish for ever I love you so much RIP you earned it 🥰💙
Uncle James . I thank God for the many years you was in your family and friends life . You will truly be miss by so many people . But I no God don’t make mistakes . Love you Uncle James Get your rest until we meet again .
Uncle James . I thank God for the many years you was in your family and friends life . You will truly be miss by so many people . But I no God don’t make mistakes . Love you Uncle James Get your rest until we meet again .
RIP Mr. Willie. Remember the day you were hired at GLEAMNS! That was a very happy time. We were so glad that you had joined us. We had so much fun over the years and we were like one big family. Now you are at rest with our Father and your pain will be no more. My heart is hurting, but I know you are at a better place. Peace!! Clarice Wright , former coworker.
My condolences to the Bates family. I’m going to miss my neighbor and our after church porch conversations. Get your rest Fat.
Lord my buddy is gone met him when we was working at gleams he was a good friend going to miss you Mr Willie
Sending my sincere condolences to the family. Uncle Willie will be truly missed and his smile will live forever be remembered. Get your rest! Praying for the family.
I met Mr Willie when I worked at the Head Start, he was like family. We would laugh and joke all the time. He always had a smile on his face. Even after I left, we still kept in touch. He will forever be remembered. I remember being on FaceTime with him while he was in the hospital and I still was able to get a smile. I will cherish that smile always
Sending my sincerest condolences to the family of Mr. Willie. I will never forget after the sermon each Sunday he would always get up with a big smile and the offering pans, speaking on how great the service was! He truly loved Pastor Harp and our church family! Mr. Willie will truly be missed but never forgotten!
My deepest condolences to the Bates Family 🙏🏾🕊
R.I.P. Mr. Willie
Gone but you will never be forgotten.
Praying for the family.
I have known Willie James (Fat Boy) for very long time. My thoughts and prayers are with the Family. May God bless and keep you all during this time of sadness.
I have known Willie James (Fat Boy) for very long time. My thoughts and prayers are with the Family. May God bless and keep you all during this time of sadness.
Willie. James was real nice person every time I saw him him, he had a smile for me. My sincere sympathy to the family. May God keep you all as you through this time of bereavement. I will keep you all lifted in prayer.
I am going to miss my uncle Fat and continue to get your rest and we will be missing you
The Jackson family and Bates Family
From your Niece Shawndra Davenport
I want to express my condolences to the Bates Family, my family. Mr. Willie will be missed but I will cherish the memories. My prayers will continue for the family and may God give you comfort in the days to come. Love you all!