Hilda Mae Blackwell Cates

Mrs. Hilda Mae Blackwell Cates, 89, of Cleveland, MS, passed away on Friday, July 5, 2019, at Walter B. Crook Nursing Facility in Ruleville. Visitation will be 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 9, 2019, at Ray Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life Service will follow beginning at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 9, 2019, at Ray Funeral Home. Interment will be in North Cleveland Cemetery.
Hilda was born on September 27, 1929, to Oscar and Gracie Blackwell in Boyle, MS. She graduated from Boyle High School. On July 12, 1947, she married Joseph Alton Cates. Hilda was employed as a bookkeeper for Federal Compress for 14 years, Baxter for 14 years, and Harkins for 12 years before retiring. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church holding several positions within the church.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Alton Cates; daughter, Patrice Cates Hoff; and parents, Oscar and Gracie Blackwell.
Hilda is survived by her sons, Larry Alton Cates(Debra) of Cleveland and Robert Allen Cates (Kathy) of KY; son-in-law, Jerry Hoff of Elizabethtown, KY; grandchildren, Damon Cates of Cleveland, Holly Tharp (Kevin) of Cleveland; Brett Hoff Passman (Cecil) of Bogalusa, LA; and Angie Hoff Baugh of West Monroe, LA; and 8 great-grandchildren.

Visitation

10:00 am - 11:00 am Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Ray Funeral Home 206 Bishop Road Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Celebration of Life Service

11:00 am - 12:00 pm Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Ray Funeral Home 206 Bishop Road Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Interment

North Cleveland Cemetery. N Bayou Cleveland, Mississippi, United States