Jeffrey L. Bates

Jeffrey Lee Bates was born to Annoise Lorraine and James Martinus Bates Sr. on February 5, 1948 in Saginaw, Michigan, the fourth child of eleven children. He passed away March 5, 2022 at his residence.

Jeffrey attended Potter and Crary Lincoln Elementary, Arthur Eddy Junior High and Saginaw High. He was a football player and band member. Jeffrey joined the US Marine Corps at a very early age and was a Vietnam Veteran. He was a Military Police Sergeant. Jeffrey worked for General Motors for many years.

Jeffrey was an overall Cool Dude. Cool, calm and collected. Never fast to anger but watch out when he was, he would let you have it, in the coolest way possible. He was the ultimate go-to-guy for his parents, siblings, extended family and friends. We lovingly called him, with a chuckle, “Bob Vila.” Jeffrey married Martha Clark in June of 1976. With that union, he became a co-parent to Constantine Bryant and Ramonda Earl, who survive him. Martha passed away in October of 1983.

Jeffrey is survived by six sisters and a brother, Joyce Williams, Jacqueline Bates, Jeraldine Burnell, Julia (Tonza Sr.) Price, Jeanetta Bates, Jennifer Bates and John Bates; nieces, Regina Ryan, Cynthia Wright, Tangya Moore, Rachel Burnell, Rochelle (Damon Sr.) Grant, Jenise Bates, Jana Bates (Robert Brown), Shontell Tillman, Bria Burnell, and Jamia Bates; nephews, Willie Wright Jr., Winfred Morgan II, Corey (Tiombe) Morgan Sr., Herschel Burnell III, Jamarr Bates Sr., Charles Bates Sr., Justin Burnell, Torrance Burnell, Tonza Price II and Jonathan Price; several grandnieces and grandnephews; great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews; brother-in-law, Willie Wright Sr.; cousins, Ronald Sykes and Janet Miller and many other cousins throughout the country; also aunts, Marcine Ramsey and Fannie (Coates) Bates; and uncles, Walter Bates and Lawrence Davis. He also leaves many friends including Raynelle (Ray) Bryant and the entire family of the late Donald Bryant, Ralph Ford, Michelle Simpson and the entire family of the late Freddie Simpson and Betty Murray.

Jeffrey was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; sisters, Joan Wright and Jocelyn Jackson; brother, James M. Bates Jr.; maternal grandparents, Robert and Ovella (Miller) Bates; paternal grandparents, James Andrew Bates, Fannie (Javins) Cole Bates and Catherine (Davis) Bates; brother-in-law, Donald Williams; 16 uncles and 14 aunts.


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