Funeral services for McKinley Bates, Sr., 80, of Ferriday, LA, who passed on Apr. 18, 2026 at Camelot Leisure Living Home in Ferriday will be at 11:00AM on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Greater Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Vidalia, LA  with Rev. Richard Jones officiating.  Burial will follow at Whitehall Cemetery under the direction of Concordia Funeral Home in Ferriday.

Visitation will be Friday, from 5 to 6PM at the funeral home.

McKinley Bates, Sr. was born on June 16, 1945 in Jackson, MS, the son of James Bates and Geneva Mack Gibson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, Willie Gibson; a son, Arthur  Bates, one brother, Julius Mack; sister-in-law, Clara Mack.

McKinley will forever be cherished and remembered by his sons; McKinley Bates, Jr. and Otis Bates, both of Ferriday, Nathaniel Bates (Tarrika) of Darlington, SC; Vince Bates of Vidalia; Richard Bates (Tiffany) of Ruston, LA;  James Bates of Hammond, LA; one daughter, Shakinly Bates of Houston, TX; sisters, Janie Bates, Phyllis Ellis (Ernest); Velma Fortune (Robert) all of Ferriday; Evelyn Bates of San Fernando Valley, CA; sister-in-law, Deloris Mack of Houston, TX; brothers, Arthur Bates (Annie) of Vidalia; James Bates of Chicago, IL. And a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and a special friend, Rose Tyler of Natchez, MS.

Online condolences can be sent to www.concordiafuneralhomeinc.com