Flora W. Cates

Oxford

Flora “Flossie” Cates, age 80, died peacefully on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She was the daughter of the late Clifton B. Watkins and Margaret Newton Watkins. Flossie was born in Granville County, NC on April 26, 1943.

Flossie was a strong fixture in the community who was a lifelong resident of Granville County, where she met and married her loving husband of 61 years, Dale Cates. Flossie worked for Burlington Mills as a Planning Coordinator and retired after 30 years. She then joined her husband at Cates Sign for 22 years. They loved and raised two beautiful girls. Flossie obtained her associate degree at the age of 60.

Flossie is survived by her husband, Wyatt Dale Cates, her daughters, Julie Vasser (Edward) of Suffolk, VA and Kelly Staton (Jerry) of New Bern, NC; her grandchildren, Kelsey Vasser, Joseph Staton (Daria), Teri Staton and Jessica Staton; and her precious great grandchild, Nadia. She leaves behind her brother, Freddie Watkins (Carolyn) and her loving sisters-in-law, Sandra Whitlow, Patricia Davis (Bobby) and Linda Piper (James); and her brother-in-law, Ron Cates (Lisa) and many extended family, friends, nieces, and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 1, 2024, at 2:00 pm in the chapel at Gentry-Newell & Vaughan in Oxford, NC and officiated by Reverend Randy Stoner. A visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to service at Gentry-Newell & Vaughan, 503 College Street, Oxford, NC. Burial will follow the service at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery on Highway 158, Oxford, NC 27565.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor to Roxboro Bible Church, PO Box 907, Roxboro, NC 27573

The Cates family is being proudly served by Gentry-Newell & Vaughan Funeral Home, Oxford, NC. Online Memorials: https://www.gnvfuneralhome.com/