Funeral service for John Aubrey Bates is Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 12 p.m. at Mt. Hope Baptist Church in Crane Hill. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. and interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Cullman Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.
John Aubrey Bates passed peacefully at his residence on January 13, 2025. Aubrey
was born in Cullman, Alabama on September 5th, 1942 to John and Ila Bates. Aubrey
married Ruth Bates on March 14, 1964. They were married for sixty years and had two
children, Teresa Bates Mauldin and Terry Bates. He had four granddaughters, Katie
Parker, Anna Mauldin, and Sarah Graves, and Teryn Bates. He had one great
granddaughter, Ava Jane Parker. Aubrey had two brothers, Kenneth Bates and the late
Ellis Bates.
Aubrey was a loving father, husband, grandfather, and friend. He worked very hard to
provide for his family and would help anyone he saw in need. He loved the Lord and
devoted his life to serving and living for Him. He was faithful to study the Bible and you
would often see his Bible and Sunday School book opened on the kitchen table where
he enjoyed reading and studying lessons. He was a dedicated member of Mt. Hope
Baptist Church and served as a deacon. Most of his career was spent working at Cook’s
Pest Control. He started in 1972 and made many friends and had many stories to share
during his thirty-five years of employment. He enjoyed being with his family and
spending time with them. Aubrey loved listening to his granddaughters play and sing
bluegrass gospel music. A good fiddling tune made his heart happy! He enjoyed
plowing, working, and gathering a harvest from his garden. Aubrey was a selfless,
humble, kindhearted man and was a blessing to so many.
Aubrey will be missed by his family and friends, but he is rejoicing and singing in
Heaven with his loved ones who have gone on before him.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth Bates; daughter, Teresa (Tom) Mauldin; son Terry
Bates; granddaughters Katie Parker (Caleb), Anna Mauldin, Sarah Graves (William),
and Teryn Bates; great granddaughter, Ava Jane Parker; brother, Kenneth (Joyce)
Bates; sister in law, Ruby (Horace) Overton; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins,
and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ila Bates; and his brother, Ellis
Bates.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Banner Church or Gideon International.
Both organizations proudly serve our Lord. Here are the links for these groups:
(https://www.bannerchurchjax.com/give/ ) ( https://www.gideons.org/ )
Direct addresses for these organizations can be given to you upon request.
Obituary lovingly written by Mr. Bates’s family.
Please visit www.cullmanfuneralhome.com to sign the online guestbook.
