James R. “Jamie” Cates

Columbiana

James R. “Jamie” Cates, age 52, a resident of Columbiana died Friday, Sept. 3, 2010 in M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Tx. after a lengthy illness.

The funeral was held at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6 at the Columbiana United Methodist Church, with visitation one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Dr. Don Wright officiated, assisted by the Rev. Pete Grice. Burial was in Pinelawn Gardens which Bolton Funeral Home directed.

Jamie Cates was preceded in death by his father, John Lewis Cates and brother, John Howell Cates. He is survived by his wife, Mary Willingham Cates; one son, James M. “Jae” Cates, Columbiana; one daughter, Nikki Price Bradbury (Bo) of Helena; mother, Jackie Howell Cates; brother, Jeffry C. Cates (Zela) of Columbiana; two grandchildren, James Henry Cates and Ella Faith Bradbury and a host of other family and friends.

Jamie Cates graduated from Shelby County High School in 1976 and graduated from Auburn University in 1979 where he was a member of the Auburn University Marching Band. After graduation from Auburn, he came home to the family farm and trucking business where he worked along with his father and brothers.

Jamie was a member of the Columbiana United Methodist Church. He was a Supervisor and Secretary of the Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors; Member of the Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association and member of its Board of Directors; Member and Vice President of the Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association; Member and President of the Alabama Feeder Calf Marketing Association; Member of the Board of Directors of the Mid-state Farmers Co-op; He was awarded the Cattlewomen’s Cattle Farmer Father of the Year in 2002; awarded the BCIA Commercial Cattle Producer of the year in 2008.

He was a successful businessman and cattle farmer who had a great love for the people of the soil. He loved life; his family, especially his grandchildren, his farm and all God’s creations and he loved his God. These factors, together with his desire to be of service to his fellow man in any way possible, motivated his outstanding service.

Active pallbearers are Sam Bristow, Ronald Cook, Tom Seale, Frank Head, Russell Ledford, Preston Griffith, Randy Morris, and Mike Clelland; honorary pallbearers are The Shelby County Cattlemen Association; BCIA Association; The Alabama Feeder Calf Marketing Association and District Supervisors of the Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Columbiana United Methodist Church Music Fund, The American Cancer Society or the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Memorial Gift Program. Please sign online condolences at Boltonfuneralhome.com