CHARLES E. CATES SR.

Mr. Charles Edward Cates, Sr., 77, of 1606 Ferndale Ave., Petersburg, Va., entered into eternal rest on Thursday, April 13, 2017, at his residence. He was born March 31, 1940, to the late Joe Cates and Nannie Mae Pettiford. He retired from Chesterfield County Public Schools Maintenance Department.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Viola Cates; his mother, Nannie Mae Pettiford; two sisters, Dorothy "Dot" Walker, Catherine Pettiford; and brother-in-law, George "Buck" Clark.

Charles is survived by: his devoted son and caregiver, Charles Edward Cates, Jr.; daughter, Akita Cates Newton, both of Petersburg; son, Linwood Pete Cates (Melissa) of Columbus, Ohio; sister, Marie Clark of Oxford, NC; two step sisters, Rosa Taylor and Marie Oakley, both of Durham, NC; two brothers, Willy Ernest Cates of New Jersey and Joe Anthony Pettiford of North Caroline; an uncle, Cornelius "Crook" Cates of Summerset, NJ; nine grandchildren, Valencia Wells, Tierra Smith, Josh Postell, Jarred Postell, Jason Postell, Delmontie Newton, Kiara Newton, Linwood Cates, Jr., James Cates; two great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins other relatives and many friends, among them devoted, Krystal Briggs, Donielle Medina, Carolyn Wynn, Richard Graves, Mark Hancock and Leon Branch.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m Thursday, April 20, 2017 at the chapel of Bland & Tucker Funeral Homes, 137 Harrison Street, Petersburg. Minister Sandra Tucker will officiate. Interment will follow in the Dinwiddie Memorial Park, Dinwiddie, Va.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the staff of Bland & Tucker Funeral Homes, 137 Harrison Street, Petersburg, (804) 732-7841. For more information or to leave an online condolence, visit us at www.blandandtuckerfuneralhomes.com.