Robbie A. “Papa” Cates
January 10, 1941 - September 11, 2017
Robbie A. “Papa” Cates, 76 of Pell City, passed away on Monday, September 11, 2017. Mr. Cates was originally from Fairfield, Alabama. He was a long-standing member of Elliottsville Presbyterian Church before moving his membership to Lakewood Presbyterian Church in Pell City. Robbie loved his family, the lake and his church family. He worked at Barbers, Comtrac Trucking and Union State Bank.
Robbie is preceded in death by his brother, Neil Gifford.
He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Edith Harris Cates; daughters, Ginni Williams (Pratt), Patti DeWitt (Roy) and Kelli Reaves (Darryl); brothers, Ronald Cates (Susan), Ronnie Livernois (Barbara), Ted Gifford and Harold Gifford; sister, Patricia Bennett; grandchildren, Meagan Kerlin (Scott), Amanda Grantham (David); P.J. Williams (Brooke), Alex Dewitt, Nic Dewitt, Adam Dewitt, Cale Reaves, Grayson Reaves and Reagan Reaves; and great grandchildren, Addie Kerlin, Gibson Kerlin, Scarlett Grantham and Collier Grantham.
The celebration of Robbie's life will be at 11am on Friday, September 15, 2017 at Southern Heritage Funeral Home with burial in the adjoining cemetery. The family will receive friends at a visitation at Southern Heritage from 6pm until 8pm Thursday evening.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society or The American Kidney Foundation.