Beatrice Lavina Bates

Mrs. Beatrice Lavina Bates, 94, of Hummingbird Lane, Hiawassee, Ga., formerly of Stonehenge, Blairsville, died Tuesday, July 25, 2006 in the Union County Nursing Home following an extended illness.

Mrs. Bates was born Oct. 9, 1911 in Milford, Ohio, the son of the late Howard Faul and the late Alvina Becker Faul. She was the first woman Deputy Sheriff of the Broward County Sheriff's Department in the 1950s. She was preceded in death by her husband, William E. Bates in 1981. Mrs. Bates was of the Protestant faith.

Surviving Mrs. Bates are her son and daughter-in-law, William (Bill) H. and Elizabeth Bates of Hiawassee; grandchildren, Bill, Terry and Todd

Bates; great-grandchildren,

Eric, Shannon and

Courtney Bates; many

other relatives and friends

also survive.

No services are planned at this time.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville in charge of the arrangements. You may sign the family guest book and send condolences on line at www.mountainviewfuneralhome. com.