History of the Restoration Movement


Curtis Anthony Cates

1941-2013

The Life Of Curtis A. Cates

Curtis Anthony Cates was born in Phenix City, Alabama February 8, 1941. He was the son of Curtis Crum Cates (1910-2003) and Margaret Juanita Anthony (1911-1942). He and his siblings grew up in the home of a gospel preacher. His parents in ministry certainly proved to influence their son for similar pursuits. He was baptized on September 8, 1957 by his father.

On October 29, 1960 Curtis was married to Annette Bingham. They had two children, Curtis Anthony, Jr. who was born in 1955 and Daniel F.
Curtis received his training at Alabama Christian College in Montgomery, where he received the A.A. and later B.S. degrees. He also received the B.S. from Livingston University in Livingston, Alabama. From there he attended Samford University in Birmingham, where he received the M.S. degree. Some years later he received the M.R.E. and M.Th. at Southern Christian University (now Amridge University).

He preached for over sixty-five years. He began in 1960 in Saville, Alabama. Churches he served over the years began at Hebron, near Arab, Alabama in 1962. While in the area he conducted a radio preaching on WRAB. The following year he moved to Atmore, Alabama where he worked with the church there for a year. While there he conducted a Sunday broadcast on WATM and taught at Escambia Christian School in Pensacola, Florida. In 1964 the family moved to Livingston, Alabama. Then in 1966 they moved to Warrior. Then after three years he took the work at LaFayette, Georgia, in 1969. While there he broadcasted messages on WLFA radio.

Curtis Cates was an effective writer. His articles appeared in several brotherhood papers. He authored books like A Comprehensive Study of Unity: Unity God approves Versus Pseudo-Unity; Does the Holy Spirit Operate Directly Upon the Heart of a Saint? A Review of Neo-Calvanism Among the Lord's People; Ezekiel and Lamentations: Lessons for God's People Past, Present and Future; Editor of Great Lessons From Old Testament Characters (1990 Memphis School of Preaching Lectureship); Heaven's Imperative or Man's Innovations: Shall We Restructure the Church of Christ?; The Book of Genesis: Foundational Truth and the Unfolding of God's Plan of Redemption; The Core/Bull's Eye Gospel Concept Refuted: Shall We Have a New Cultural Church; and The Noahic Flood: Science and the World That Was.

For three years he served in the Bible Department at Faulkner University. While living in Oregon, he served as Dean of Columbia Christian College in Portland. He also served as Academic Vice President of Southern Christian University (now Amridge University). What he was potentially greatest known was when he served as Director of Memphis School of Preaching in Memphis, Tennessee. He served in this role for twenty-four years, and then was assigned Director Emeritus.

Brother Cates was a man of great education, and was known as a great Christian. He preached gospel meetings, appeared on Bible Lectureships in numerous states, and served his Lord in every capacity where it was his privilege to participate.

Sadly, while living in Memphis, Tennessee, Curtis A. Cates lost his battle with cancer on October 25, 2013. His body was returned to his south Alabama home of Ft. Deposit for burial in the Sandy Ridge Cemetery.

-Scott Harp, 12.3.2021

Preachers of Today, Vol. 4, page 51. Ancestry.com. Newspapers.com,

Doctor Curtis Anthony Cates, Sr.
FEBRUARY 8, 1941 – OCTOBER 25, 2013

Obituary for Curtis A. Cates

Doctor Curtis Cates, age 72, passed away October 25, 2013, at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, TN. A member of the church of Christ, Doctor Cates preached the Gospel for over 65 years, and served as director and faculty member of Memphis School of Preaching for over 25 years. Doctor Cates received his Ed.D, from the University of Alabama. Doctor Cates was preceded in death by his parents, Curtis and Margaret Cates, and by his sister Juanita Cates. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Annette Cates, by his sons Andy (Michelle) Cates, and Dan (Shelly) Cates. Doctor Cates is also survived by one brother, Paul Cates, and by four grandchildren, Maggie Cates, Trey Cates, Caitlin Cates, and Conor Cates. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 28, 2013, at 2 P.M. at Forest Hill Church of Christ in Memphis, Tennessee. The family will receive friends prior to service time beginning at 10 A. M. A committal service will be held Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Little Sandy Ridge Cemetery in Fort Deposit, AL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Memphis School of Preaching, Amridge University, or Wings Cancer Foundation.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/memphis-tn/curtis-cates-5717687

Dr. Curtis A. Cates

Curtis A. Cates was born in Phenix City, Alabama, to Curtis C. and Margaret A. Cates. His father was a gospel preacher of more than fifty years, in South Alabama and Northwest Florida. Curtis A. Cates was graduated from Alabama Christian High School; Alabama Christian College (now Faulkner University) A.A., B.S.; Livingston University, B.S.; Samford University, M.S.; and Southern Christian University (now Amridge University), M.R.E., M. Th. He earned the Doctor of Education degree from the University of Alabama. He did further graduate study in Abilene Christian University. Brother Cates married Annette Bingham on October 29, 1960. They have two children, Curtis A. (Andy), Jr. (a 2000 graduate of the Memphis School of Preaching), who is married to the former Michelle Cicchetto, and Daniel F. (a 1992 graduate of Memphis School of Preaching) who is married to the former Michelle Lea Jones. They also have four grandchildren. Annette (B.S.; M.L.S.), who heads the N. B. Hardeman Library of the Memphis School of Preaching, has written many articles for journals, teaches library orientation to incoming Memphis School of Preaching students, authored the Spiritual Sword Fifteen Year Index, and writes a monthly column in The Gospel Journal entitled, "One Woman's Perspective." Brother Cates delivered his first sermon at the Founder's Day Oratorical Contest of Alabama Christian College, May, 1958, and began regular preaching in January, 1960, in Saville, Alabama. During fifty-two years of preaching, he preached full-time in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, as well as preaching in gospel meetings in numerous states, as well as in Singapore, Klang and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Murmansk, Russia. He frequently appears on major lectureships, including having delivered lectures in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Additionally, he conducts lectures and workshops on Christian evidences, leadership in the church, religious education and teaching, The Book of Job and human suffering, et al. For forty years, Curtis A. Cates has been training gospel preachers. He was a professor for three years at Faulkner University; was Dean of the College, Columbia Christian College, Portland, Oregon, and was a professor and Academic Vice President of Southern Christian University (now Amridge University) for twelve years. He served as Director of Memphis School of Preaching for twenty-four years, where he serves as Director Emeritus and teaches. He also is on the graduate faculty of the Turner School of Theology, Amridge University (forty years). His numerous years of training gospel preachers and church leaders through the extensions of Southern Christian University (Amridge) carried him to teach in thirty cities in ten states. His undergraduate and graduate classes were attended by more than one thousand preachers, Bible class teachers, and elders. Brother Cates is the Editor (and is on the Board of Directors) of The Gospel Journal. For nineteen years, he was the director (and editor of the book) of the annual Memphis School of Preaching Lectureship. He is author of The Noahic Flood: Science and the World That Was (printed in Russian and English); Worship: Heaven's Imperative or Man's Innovation?The "Core/Bull's Eye Gospel" Concept RefutedThe A.D. 70 Theology, A Religion that Overthrows the Faith and Undermines the Hope of MenA Comprehensive Study of Unity; and Does the Holy Spirit Operate Directly Upon the Heart of a SaintA Review of Calvinism among the Lord's People. In addition, he has been a contributor to countless lectureship books and brotherhood periodicals. He has taught virtually all the Old and New Testament books, Christian Evidences, Hermeneutics, Biblical Archaeology, Denominational Dogmas, et al., in addition to other college disciplines such as science, English, and education. --

(Memphis School Of Preaching Press Release, by way of Find-A-Grave)

The Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, Alabama
Sunday, May 20, 1962, page 68


The Atmore Advance, Atmore, Alabama
Thursday, March 28, 1963, pages 1,10

The Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, Alabama
Sunday June 4, 1961. page 8

The Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, Alabama
Saturday, May 3, 1975, page 7

The Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, Alabama
Sunday, August 14, 1977, page 17

Ravalli Republic, Hamilton, Montana
Friday, July 20, 1990, page 9

Directions To The Burial Location

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 are the parents of Curtis Cates, Curtis C. and Margaret Cates.

GPS Location
31°58'18.2"N 86°30'37.6"W
31.971728, -86.510454


North Entrance to Cemetery - The grave is visible in this picture - just inside the gate and the grave is on the left side

Curtis A. Cates - February 8, 1941 - October 25, 2013
Annette B. Cates - August 4, 1939 - ???

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!

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