Patricia "Pat" Bates West

Patricia Bates West of Wrens, Georgia, passed away Sunday, February 9, 2025, at Piedmont Hospital in Augusta, Georgia. She was born on July 1, 1940, in Laurel, Mississippi, to the late Roy Bates and the late Nina Busby Bates, where she grew up playing the piano at Strengthford Baptist Church in Wayne County, Mississippi. There she met her lifetime love, Dr. Julian West, who was pastoring the church at Strengthford. They married on July 17, 1955, and remained married until his death on November 3, 2019.

Pat, as she was known, was a high school dropout who, once married, fulfilled her promise to her father to acquire her education. She attended Jones County, Mississippi Junior College, eventually graduating with a bachelor's degree in Education in 1962 from William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Teaching was her passion; she taught every grade from elementary to high school. She enjoyed teaching language arts and high school Spanish for several years in Mississippi and Georgia. Pat loved to correct her family's grammar and made sure we understood how to correctly use the words have, has, and had in a sentence. We “have went” was a definite no-no. She was especially fond of teaching the “little ones” in first and second grade. She spent 34 years teaching in Mississippi and Georgia, retiring from the Iuka, Mississippi, school system in 1995.

Pat was also fond of teaching Sunday school and taught for several years in different locations, as her husband pastored multiple churches after leaving Strengthford, Mississippi. They then moved to Stringer, Houlka, and Corinth, Mississippi churches. From there, they moved to Augusta, Georgia, for three years before moving to Wrens, Georgia, where they served Wrens Baptist Church for nine years. She and Julian then moved briefly to Albany, Georgia, and they concluded their ministry in Iuka, Mississippi, returning to retire in Wrens, Georgia, in 1995.

When they returned to Wrens, they moved in beside their only son, Brad, and his wife, Julie Hale West. Pat always said that living beside her three grandchildren, Katie West Garner (Jeremy), Molly West Usry (C.J.), and Jacob West, brought her the most joy. She was actively involved in their lives, seeing them go from childhood through middle school and high school and eventually seeing each one of them graduate from college. She always ensured that each of them realized the importance of an education. She was also excited to meet her only great-grandchild, Weston James Usry, in 2022.

Although she went by Pat in the community, she was affectionately known as Sis-Sis by the whole family as well as several neighbors and friends. From her grandchildren to her two sisters, Sarah “Nickey” Jones (John) and Donnis Shirley (Jimmy), she loved her family immensely and devoted her retirement years to caring for and loving each one.

It is never easy to say goodbye to a loved one. It is tough to know that your mom will never be there to correct your grammar, laugh with you, care for you when you are hurting, or encourage you when you need it. I am thankful for the 56 years I was able to call Pat West - Mama.

The family would like to express its sincere gratitude to the Gibson Health and Rehabilitation staff for their compassionate care.

The visitation will be held from 1:00 – 2:00PM Thursday, February 13, 2025 at James Funeral Home after which services to celebrate her life will commence in the James Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. John A. Jenkins officiating. Honored to be pallbearers include Jackson Dye, Jeremy Garner, Brian Shirley, Seth Shirley, C.J. Usry and Jacob West. A private interment will follow in the Wrens Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

The family respectfully requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Wrens Baptist Church, PO Box 217, Wrens GA 30833 earmarked “PWest - Greater Things” or online at https://www.wrensbaptist.org, and clicking on the “GIVE” tab. (Be sure to “add a message” to denote the contribution as a memorial for Pat West.) Your memorial contribution in her honor is greatly appreciated.