Aug. 21, 1958 – Nov. 29, 2019

NATCHEZ— Services for Darnell Bates, 61, of Natchez, who died Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, in Baton Rouge, will be 11 a.m. Friday at Southwood Lodge Baptist Church with the Rev. Tracy Cusic officiating.  
Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of West Gate Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 4 to 5 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 10 a.m. until service time Friday at the church.
Mr. Bates was born Aug. 21, 1958, in Natchez, the son of Elijah and Pearlina Bates.
He was educated in the Natchez school district and was a retired carpenter.  Darnell was a member of Southwood Lodge Baptist Church. He enjoyed watching television.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Lee Anna White and Dorothy Bates.
Survivors include one daughter, Latoya Keys-Owens and husband, Michael; five brothers, John H. Bates and wife, Daisy, Robert L. Bates and wife, Carolyn, Charles Bates, Randy Bates and Nathaniel Bates and wife, Rachael; one sister, Cynthia Bates; five grandchildren, Joseph, Timothy, Sariah, Elizabeth and Micah Owens, and other relatives and friends.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at westgatefh.com.