Cornelius Cates

Cornelius Cates, known affectionately as Connie, was born into this world on March 31, 1930 through the marriage union of the late Cornelius and Ida Clay.  The Lord called her home April 26, 2020.  Connie was united in holy matrimony to Percy Cates, Jr.  To this union, four children were born: Beverly, Joyce, Percy III, Clay Charles, and Maurice Davin.  After migrating from Mississippi to Chicago and eventually Gary, Indiana, Connie and family joined First Baptist Church under the pastoral of Reverend Robert E. Penn.  There she remained a member for the rest of her days.  As a professional, Connie had a distinguished decade's long tenure at the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, from which she retired in the early 2000's.  Connie was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Percy Jr., daughter, Beverly, parents, Cornelius and Ida , and siblings, Johnny, Robert, Joseph, Elijah, Moses, Ruthie May, Mildred, Ida, Josephine, and Beatrice.  Left behind to cherish Connie's memory are her children, Percy Cates III, Clay Charles (Evelyn) Cates, Dr. Maurice Davin Cates, sister, Dorothy Lumpkin, nine grandchildren, and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.  Services for Mrs. Cates will be private.  May God bless the Cates families.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Cornelius Cates, please visit our floral store.