Curtis Crum Cates
1910-2003
The Life Of Curtis C. Cates
Curtis Crum Cates was born September 14, 1910 in Ft. Deposit, Alabama. He was the only child of Maylon Cates (1887-1945) and Beulah Lawrence (1889-1913). When his mother passed away his father remarried Orelia McCrory (1896-???). They had four more children, Madeline Cates (1919-2002); Francis A. Cates (1922-2011); Doris Nell Cates (1931-2003); and Elsie Claire Cates (1933-1998).
Curtis was married March 31, 1934 to Margaret Juanita Anthony (1911-1942). They had three children, Ethel Juanita Cates (1939-1942); Curtis Anthony Cates, Sr. (1941-2013); and another child.
He was baptized into Christ by C.A. Buffington in July 1923. He received some training at Alabama Christian College and Harding School of Religion. He began preaching at Foley, Alabama in 1950. While there he conducted a daily radio broadcast over WHEP radio for about three years. In 1956 he began preaching some at Troy, Alabama. Before the end of the year he moved there and continued for the next two years. In 1958 the family moved to Montgomery where he began preaching for the West End church of Christ. From there they moved to Flomaton, Alabama in 1963.
Brother Cates was highly respected among churches of Christ. Especially in the southern part of Alabama, he was widely held in esteem. He preached in many gospel meetings and on college lecture programs. His excellence in proclaiming the gospel lived on in his children, especially in his son Curtis Anthony who not only preached for decades, but also served many years as director of Memphis School of Preaching in Memphis, Tennessee.
Curtis C. Cates died in Nashville, Tennessee July 21, 2003. Burial followed at Fort Deposit, Lowndes County, Alabama. Margaret followed May 14, 2006.
-Scott Harp, 11.27.2021
Sources: Preachers of Today, Volumes 2, p. 72; and 3, p.68; Ancestry.com; Newspapers.com, Gospel Advocate.
Newspaper Clippings
The Onlooker, Foley, Alabama
Thursday, January 26, 2950, p.14
The Onlooker, Foley, Alabama
Thursday, February 23, 1950, p.10
The Onlooker, Foley, Alabama
Thursday, July 31, 1952, p.1
The Onlooker, Foley, Alabama
Thursday, August 4, 1955, p.3
Directions To Grave
The Cates family plot is in the Little Sandy Ridge Cemetery, near Fort Depost, Alabama. Locate on Hwy. 79, take Exit 142 off I-65 at Ft. Deposit, and head east on Hwy. 185. In less than a mile turn right on Hwy. 79. In about a mile the cemetery will be on your left. Also buried in this cemetery is the son of Curtis C. and Margaret Cates, Charles A. Cates.
GPS Location
31°58'17.1"N 86°30'37.6"W
or D.d. 31.971422, -86.510437
Curtis Crum Cates - September 14, 1910 - July 21, 2003
Margaret Anthony Cates - August 8, 1911 - May 14, 2006
Photos Taken 03.03.2015
Webpage Produced 11.30.2021
Courtesy Of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com
Special Recognition: Thanks to Wayne Kilpatrick for traveling with me for the day in south Alabama. Started a pretty big snake walking through this cemetery, (or should I say we were startled more than he was!!!) But, we found the graves for which we were searching. The Cates family should live long in the minds of Christians for their dedication to the Kingdom of our Christ!