A life he loved went to a closing on May 29, 2007 following a brief illness. Bravell Cates, 84, was born in Spartanburg, SC on July 31, 1922. He was a member of the Ridgeville Baptist Church of which he joined at an early age and the lead singer of a quartet that was popular during that era.

He was married to Dona F. Cates in which two children were born to this union.

Mr. Cates was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dona F. Cates; four brothers, Junior, Homer, L.C. and Beufort; and one sister, Mildred Montgomery.

Left to cherish his fond memories are his two sons, Tommy Cates of Brooklyn, NY and Vincent King of Houston, TX; two daughters, Annie Mildred (Gary) Jackson of Inman, SC and Valerie King of Winston-Salem, NC; one brother, Fletcher (Shirley) Cates of Hartford, CT; three sisters, Bennie Mae Miller of Wellford, SC, Virginia (Lawrence) Bobo of Inman, SC, and Edna Bernice Cates of Winston-Salem, NC; one sister-in-law, Annie Mae Cates of Chesnee, SC; his grandchildren, Mirande (Terry) Brannon and Keith Earles of Inman, SC and Brandon of Winston-Salem, NC; five great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted at 12noon Friday, June 1, 2007 from the Russell Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Parklawn Memorial Park. The family visitation will be held from 11:30am until 12 noon on Friday at the Chapel.