Charlotte Sue Bates

Charlotte Sue Bates, 79, of Jefferson County, passed from this earth to her heavenly home on September 25,2024, due to complications from pneumonia.Charlotte Bates, Sue to those who knew her, was born on July 8,1945 to Emma Jane and James Edward Akins in Birmingham, Alabama. Growing up in Wylam, Alabama, she was raised in by Emma Jane and William Anderson. She had two sisters, Carolyn Jane Hope and Claudia May Goodwin, whom she loved dearly maintaining a close relationship with each of them throughout her life. She attended Ensley Highschool and got her GED.She had a knack for speaking to people, making them feel at ease. This led to an exemplary and successful career as a realtor. She worked for Oxford Realty in Birmingham, Alabama. One of her greatest achievements was a lifetime membership in the Million Dollar Club.At 14, Sue met here first love, Joseph Glenn Gray, and they married on May 8, 1961. She went on to have 4 girls; Paula, Marcie, Andrea, and Stephanie, whom she would sacrifice anything for and often did.Sue met her second love, Bob Bates, and married him in Pensacola on March 28,1986. They loved each other deeply and saw many happy years together.Sue had a deep and unwavering faith in God, telling everyone around her they needed Christ in their lives. She clung to that faith on the mountain tops and in the valleys of life and taught her children to do the same.Sue had a zest for life and lived it to its fullest. She was an avid football fan and bled crimson and white for her team, Alabama. She loved to dance and was a member of the Magic City Boppers. One of her favorite things to do was to go to Biloxi and Philadelphia, Mississippi to play the slot machines, winning big a few times.Sue was predeceased by Emma Jane Anderson, William Anderson, James Akins, Joseph Glenn Gray, Bob Bates,and Carolyn Jane Hope. She is survived by her girls Paula Smith (and Billy Smith), Marcie Smith (and Duane Smith), Andrea Mudge (and Thomas Mudge), Stephanie Goodwin (and Jay Goodwin), and her sister Claudia Goodwin. Honey Sue, as her grandchildren knew and loved her, are many. Their names are Zachary Phillips, Jordan Phillips, Cameron Gray, Josiah Phillips, Andrew Mudge, David Mudge, Jamison Smith, Victoria (Tori) Mudge, Jared Bowen, Chelsea Goodwin, Aaron Smith, Evan Goodwin, Samuel (Sam) Mudge, and Whitney Goodwin . She also had many great grandchildren; Gabriel Phillips, Zoe Phillips, Ariel Phillips, Emily Phillips, Brooklyn Mudge, Weston Goodwin, Hayden Jane Hudgins, and Elijah Joel Phillips. She loved her family deeply and her legacy lives on through those who loved her.She also loved her nieces and nephew, Bethany Jane Hope, Kris Goodwin and Kira Goodwin and would often say she considered them as her own.Services will be held at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home on October 2, 2024. Visitation is at 11:00 am and service at 12:00 pm: graveside to follow. Send flowers to Jefferson Funeral Home or in lieu of flowers donations can be made to lionsservices.org .