Thelma Bates Cotney 82 formerly of 1560 Holland's Landing Road Prosperity wife of J. D. Cotney died Friday May 5 2006 at White Oak Manor Newberry. Mrs. Cotney was born in Williston a daughter of the late Grover and Annie Gordan Bates and she was a retired employee of Old School Manufacturing Company. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church Ladies Sunday School Class W. M. U. and the Sunshine Club. She helped start the G. A.'s in the 1950's and was a former Sunday School Teacher. She was a devoted and loving wife and mother and is survived by her husband of Newberry; two daughters and sons-in-law Patricia C. and Billy McDonald and Joan and Don Moss; two sons and daughters-in-law Wako and Frances Cotney and Terry and Ann Cotney all of Prosperity; a sister Alma B. Cotney and sister-in-law Lola Mae Bates both of Newberry; seven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by four brothers Haskell Bates Wilbur Bates Wallace Bates and Frank Bates and a sister Ruth Johnson.Funeral services were conducted 3:00 PM Sunday at Bethel Baptist Church by Rev Wako Cotney and Terry Cotney. Interment will be in the church cemetery.Visitation was from 6:00 to 7:30 P. M. Saturday at the Whitaker Funeral Home and the family was at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Terry Cotney 161 Circle H Woods Prosperity.Memorials may be made to the Care Team c/o Bethel Baptist Church 2503 Bethel Church Road Prosperity SC 29127.Active pallbearers were her grandchildren Mark Cotney Ron Cotney William McDonald Jr. Michelle C. Russo Dale Moss David Moss and James McDonald. Honorary pallbearers were her great-grandchildren.Whitaker Funeral Home Newberry is assisting the family.