Petal, MS
Funeral Home
Moore Funeral Home
Visitation
Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 5 – 9 p.m., Moore Funeral Home in Petal and Thursday, September 11, 2025 10 – 11 a.m., Vision Baptist Church.
Service
Thursday, September 11, 2025, 11 a.m., Vision Baptist Church.
Obituary
Military Service Tribute, Honors, and Obituary:
Recognizing and Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”.
In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.
Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on September 8, 2025, and has moved on to his heavenly home. Retired Staff Sergeant Andrew Tomkins “Tommy” Bates, age 79, who had served in the 890th Engineer Battalion and worked fulltime at the Shelby CSMS has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord.
It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country. A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.
Rest in Peace Soldier. We applaud your patriotism, sacrifices, and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright, and live so free.
You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.
Another great Soldier has gone home, “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten, Soldier for Life”.
Obituary, Visitation, and Service Details:
Andrew T. “Tommy” Bates, 79, of Petal, passed away Monday, September 8, 2025 at his home.
Visitation will be Wednesday, September 10, 2025 from 5 – 9 p.m. at Moore Funeral Home in Petal. A second visitation will be held Thursday, September 11, 2025 from 10 – 11 a.m. at Vision Baptist Church with services immediately following at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Morriston Cemetery.
Mr. Bates was a devoted member of Vision Baptist Church, faithfully attending and serving as an usher. He proudly served in the United States Army and retired from the Mississippi National Guard after more than 49 years of dedicated service. He enjoyed fishing, cheering on USM football, and especially looked forward to the last Saturday of each month, when he gathered with his brothers for a card game.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Mary Bates; his first wife, Nellie Rose Bates; his son, Brandon Bates; one granddaughter, Alishia Bates; one brother, James Bates; and one sister, Annie L. Miller.
He is survived by his wife, F. Mae Bates; his son, Tony L. Bates, Sr.; one step-daughter, Susan Blackwell (Randall); one step-son, Daniel Faust; six grandchildren, Marc Bates, Tony Shane Bates, Jr., Domenique Bates, Josie Blackwell (Bobby Orr), Nick Faust, and Katie May Faust; one great grandson, Braden Orr; and four brothers, J.D. Bates, Donald Bates, Elliott Bates, and Larry Bates.