Mrs. Elizabeth Bates was born on April 4, 1941, to the late Carrie Montgomery and the late Willie Lyles in Spartanburg, SC. She was educated in the Spartanburg County Schools. Elizabeth was wed to the late Oliva Bates.

Elizabeth loved the Lord with all her heart and was a faithful and dutiful member of the Church of Jesus Christ. She was the church mother, deaconess, and Sunday School teacher. She loved reading the Bible and often could be found studying and preparing to teach Sunday School. She was a loving and caring mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

She was preceded in death, along with her parents, by her loving husband, Oliva Bates; sister, Ethone Jones; brother, Leonard Lyles, Sr.; sons, James Nelson Bogan, Ronnie Bogan, and Dwight Bogan; and  granddaughter, Frederica Harris.

She leaves to cherish her love and legacy of faith to daughter, Harriet (Benjamin) Means of Spartanburg, SC; sons, Timothy Bogan and Wilkes Haney, III both of Spartanburg, SC; sister, Willie Mae (Paul) Scott of Spartanburg, SC; aunt, Rachel Gaston of Lyman, SC; grandchildren reared in the home, Ebony Bogan Kaufman and Tchacona Means both of Spartanburg, SC;  caregivers, Tasha Hopkins and Deniece Gaines; sister in law, Margaret Lyles; 10 other grandchildren; a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

On the evening of Sunday, March 26, 2023, Elizabeth quit this busy walk of life to join the great cloud of witnesses. Her legacy of faith in Christ and love of family will continue to be a beacon of light to all who knew her.