Alice Buhl Bates

(DURHAM)- Alice Buhl Bates, age 84, passed away on December 2, 2024, at home. Born in Knoxville, TN on April 11, 1940, she was the daughter of the late Walter Floyd (Bull) Buhl and Phyllis (Cox) Buhl. She was the devoted wife of Bryce Berlynn Bates for over 62 years and mother to three sons, and grandma to three grandsons.

Alice graduated from Carson- Newman College, Jefferson City, TN in 1962 with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration: Accounting; and from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1983 with a Master of Divinity Degree. Alice worked for HR Block for 40 years. She was a long- time writer for the Women’s Missionary Union, SBC. She worked in the nursery, and was a Girls in Action, Acteens, and Sunday School Teacher at Grey Stone Baptist Church, Durham, NC for many years. She was a recognized Child Advocate in Durham County, NC. She made several missionary trips including Pippa Passes, Ky; San Paulo, Brazil; and New York, New York. She was a collector of dolls and Nativity Scenes, loved to sew and cook. She was a fan of the Durham Bulls Minor League Baseball Team and loved going to games, keeping her own score card book. She loved things colored purple and loved frogs. 

Alice Bates is survived by husband Bryce Bates (Durham, NC); Sons and daughter-in- laws- Walter Lynn and Mary Bates, (Corryton, TN); Bill and Julie Bates (Asheboro, NC) and Jay Bates (Raleigh, NC). Grandsons and Granddaughters-in-law; Joseph and Kate (Rafalski) Bates (Oldsmar, FL); Thomas and Bethany (Widby) Bates (Knoxville, TN) and Christopher Bates (Asheboro, NC). Also survived by her sister, Jennie Keating (Fla) and an Uncle Lawson Alexander Cox II (Joyce) (Georgia).

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at Yates Baptist Church, Durham, NC; website: yateschurch.org. Visitation will be at 2 pm with service to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Women’s Missionary Union of North Carolina; Growing God’s House of Yates Baptist Church, Durham, NC; or a Children’s Hospital of your choice.

The Bates family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, Online condolences:

www.hallwynne.com - select obituaries.