Marjorie Violet Thompson Bates, age 86, a resident of Columbia, passed away Monday, October 4, 2021, at Maury Regional Medical Center.

 A funeral service was held on Saturday, October 9, 2021, at Heritage Funeral Home with Pastor Lee Stevenson of First United Methodist Church officiating. Burial followed at Graves Cemetery in Perry County. Heritage Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

Born on November 6, 1934, in Perry County, Marjorie was the daughter of the late Paul O. Thompson and the late Violet Cotton Thompson. Marjorie was married to Tommy Lee Bates who preceded her in death on August 2, 2019. She was a graduate of Lewis County High School, attended Martin Methodist College and Peabody College, and earned her master’s degree in education from Middle Tennessee State University. She taught school in Hohenwald, Centerville, Murfreesboro, Hampshire, and at Whitthorne over a period of forty-two years. Marjorie was a member of First United Methodist Church where she sang in the church choir. She was a past secretary for the Maury County History Association, past-president of MCRT, and a member of the United Methodist Women’s Class. She was also a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Left behind to cherish Marjorie’s memory are her daughter, Kimberly “Kim” (Jimmy Pruitt) Bates of Clifton; grandchildren, Dalton Ray Greggs and Savanna (Brandon Deaton) Greggs; and great-grandchildren, Stryker Deaton, and Haiven Deaton, and grand-furbaby, Harley Joe.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, Edward Paul Thompson.

Pallbearers were Mike Thompson, Paris Thompson, David Thompson, Grant Thompson, Bill Marbet, and Clay Pruitt. Honorary pallbearers included the First United Methodist Church Bible study group, the Maury County Board of Education, and Jerry and Linda Rhea.