Thomas Bates, Sr. Thomas Hilton Bates, Sr., 76 of Eight Mile, AL passed away Monday, December 19, 2011 at his residence. Visitation was held Tuesday, December 27, 2011 from 6 - 8 PM at Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 1 PM in the Lowndes Funeral Home Chapel, Columbus, MS. Interment will be in Memorial Gardens, Columbus, MS with Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS directing. Mr. Bates was born September 3, 1935 in Liberty, MS to the late Hilton D. and Lula Mae Rabb Bates. He retired from the United States Air Force after 20 years of service and in 1993 he retired as an aircraft mechanic with Dynacorp, Columbus, MS. Mr. Bates enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, and being surrounded by his family. In addition to his parents, Mr. Bates is preceded in death by his wife - Ina Mae Renfroe Bates; daughters - Wanda Ellen Bates, Bonita Joy Bates White; and granddaughter - Julie Hopper. Mr. Bates is survived by his sons - Thomas Hilton (Tammy) Bates, Jr., Eight Mile, AL; Ronnie Bates, Millport, AL; daughter - Sherrie Denise (Mark) Bach, Aberdeen, MS; sisters - Inez Woods, McComb, MS; Wilma Lee Bates, McComb, MS; brother - Walter Bates, CO; grandchildren - Earnie Doyle White, Jr, Jonathan Wayne Gates, Jericho Bates, Amanda Bates, Thomas Bates, III, Bill Bates; and 5 great grandchildren.