Obituary of Retha Bates

WEST COLUMBIA: Funeral service for Retha Mae Bates, 72, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 21, 2013, at the Southland Memorial Gardens Mausoleum Chapel, officiated by Pastor Jeff Bradley. Committal will follow at the graveside of Southland. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Saturday evening at Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia, State Street Chapel. Mrs. Bates, widow of Roy Glenn Bates, passed away Wednesday, April 17, 2013. Born in Lexington County, SC, she was a daughter of the late Willie Lawson and Ruby Balzegar Lawson. She was a loving mother and grandmother. Mrs. Bates worked in the sewing room for over 30 years at Capital City Manufacturing and worked at Lexington School District 2. Survivors include her daughter, Jewel Ann Berry of Lexington; sons, Steve Medlin, Sr. of Lexington, Tim Oneal Brazell (Laurie) of Lexington and Ty Brazell of West Columbia; grandchildren, Meagan Blaine Wolfe, Aaron Brazell, Christopher Vining, Tyler Matthew Brazell, Breauna Brazell, Austin Brazell, Adam Brazell and Steven Michael Medlin, II. Mrs. Bates was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Roy Glenn Bates; her daughter, Kimberly Gail Vining; and sister, Alma Leach.