News

Tribute to Betty Bates

We regret to tell you that Mrs. Betty Bates died around noon on Sunday, June 28, 2020. The family plans to hold a memorial service at Harding Academy when it is safe to do so, and more details will be shared at that time.

Mrs. Bates was a Harding Academy employee for almost 30 years, serving as an English teacher (1963–1970), department chair (1965–1970), Supervisor of Instruction (1970–1980), Academic Dean (1980–1989), and finally as Vice President (1989–1990).

Mrs. Bates’s teachers knew her to be their greatest supporter—their cheerleader. Teachers knew that her incredible organizational and communication skills kept the entire school on track, and they felt empowered by the confidence she placed in them. Her high expectations, not only for teachers and students, but also for herself, raised the bar at Harding Academy. 

Today, Harding Academy continues to be the beneficiary of Mrs. Bates’s years of work, loyalty, and service to the school to which she dedicated her life. It is fitting that the award for middle/upper school teacher of the year is named in her honor.

Mrs. Bates “graduated” from Harding Academy with the class of 1990, but she continued to be involved in education by supervising student teachers for Freed-Hardeman University and working part-time as academic supervisor at Rossville Christian Academy.
 
Mrs. Bates was an active member at White Station Church of Christ where she served as a Bible class teacher and keeper of the baby nursery. She and her husband have two daughters, Claudia and Donna, five grandsons, and six great-grandchildren. They will have a family service in a few days and hope to have a public service in the future.

In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Bates requested memorials to her scholarship fund at Harding Academy (the Betty S Bates Scholarship Fund) or to Harding University.