Josephine Thompson Bates, 90, of Reliance, passed away Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at Woods Memorial Hospital, Etowah, TN. A native of North Carolina and a resident of Reliance, she was a daughter of the late Henry Preston and Daisy Duggan Thompson. She was a member of Towee Baptist Church in Reliance, TN. She is preceded in death by her parents, listed above; her husband, Teddy Bates and two brothers and sister-in-law, Loman and Pearl Thompson and Buster Duggan. Survivors include three sisters and brother-in-law, Ann and Jim Goins of Cleveland, TN, Trulah Taylor of Cleveland, TN and Dorothy Huffman of Etowah, TN; special caretakers, Billie, Jonathan and Stephanah Carroll; and nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 4, 2010 in the South Chapel with Rev. Terry Daniels officiating. The family will receive friends, 5-7 p.m. Thursday, prior to the service. Family and friends will assemble at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 5, 2010 at Lindner Cemetery for the committal service. Eddie Goins, Cicero Carroll, Bump Carroll, Tony Carroll, Mark Morgan, Tom Stephens and Curtis Chastain will serve as pallbearers.