Patricia Ann Bates, born in Camden NJ to the late Rev. Ollice Bates and Priscilla Perkins Alston Bates on October 5, 1942. Early in life she accepted the Lord Jesus and was baptized at Little Rock Baptist Church where her grandmother, Dolly Perry Alston, was a long standing member. She participated as the church clerk, young adult choir member until 1973 when she attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Salem, NJ where her father was the pastor for 36 years.

She was educated in the Camden City school district and was a graduate of Camden High School in 1960. She secured positions in the City of Camden and the Philadelphia Navy Depot in the Philadelphia Inquirer, but her desire was to attend college, despite society's objections, and become a math teacher. She graduated from Rowan University in 1982, paving and paying her own way after helping raise her siblings and fulfilling an education dream for herself, and her mother.

Patricia taught mathematics in numerous schools in Camden city, in addition to the Inquirer, including Camden High, Hatch and Riletta Twyne Cream School, from which she retired in 2009. She was a member of the "Mighty Eight", phenomenal teachers at Cream School, and had highest rates of success in math education, guided by divine purpose and humor. She also taught in the adult education programs–the tutor to the teachers, and young girls in the community.

She attended numerous churches in South Jersey, notably Alpha Baptist Church in Willingboro, NJ and Union Baptist Temple in Bridgeton, ardently.  Patricia enjoyed traveling to the beaches, and developing an exquisite sense of style.

She was blessed to be the mother of  Piarette Bates, and was a devoted grandmother to Paige, Kyle, Kameron and Piper. She is survived by siblings: Ollice Jr. (Kathy), Pamela, Ryan (Michele) and her beloved nephew Kamal, as well as a number of great nieces and close cousins with whom she was reared and loved profoundly. She was most valued in her family for her spirit of continuous support and engagement in everyone's dreams. She taught humility, balance and forgiveness in her family.  She was loved by children in schools, and babies everywhere. She looked out for her neighbors and members in the community. Her love involved  her whole heart–with strict attention to detail, and a fierce and complete love of anyone from all walks of life, with a knowledge that our life was to be of service and that one day, we all return Home.

She loved.    And she was loved.

*** Patricia is predeceased by her eldest brother, Richard Bates.