My great grandfather was Preacher Levi Bates. He was married to Elizabeth “Lizzie” McKibben Bates. They had 8 children. My grandmother, my mother’s mother, was one of them. Paw Paw Bates, as we called him, lived until I was 11 years old, so I have fond memories of him and remember him very well. I’ve heard lots of stories about him and my great grandmother, but one story in particular sometimes sends chills all over me when I think about it.
When my grandmother was about to give birth to my mother (the oldest of their 5 children), my grandparents moved in with Levi and Lizzie and whomever else was living in the house at that time. This was basically a five room house, a kitchen, living room and three small bedrooms, with no electricity nor indoor plumbing. At any given time I think there could have been upwards of at least seven or more people living in the tiny farmhouse.
My grandmother gave birth to my mother, Elizabeth Parrie Murphy on September 12, 1938 so that would make our house at least 81 years old. I love this old house with every imperfection and old board there is. But I also love the history. Since my great grandfather was a preacher, people would come get married in the living room or on the front porch. I’ve had people drive up into our yard looking for “Preacher Bates’ House” because they had gotten married here 50 + years ago. Now that’s special. Everyone knew “Brother Levi”. My dad even wrote a song about him.
But one of the most touching stories was about my mother and Paw Paw Bates. My grandparents lived in this house until my mother was around 3 years old and then they moved to Atlanta because my Paw Paw Murhphy had gotten a job with the railroad. But when my mother was a toddler, she got very sick. She developed pneumonia and almost died.
It has been told to me that the doctors didn’t expect my mother to live. So, being a man of God, my great grandfather started praying. He went out on the property into the woods and stayed there for quite some time, praying and talking to God. I’m not sure how long he stayed outside, but it’s my understanding that he stayed out there all night.
He came back home and told his family that God had spoken to him and had told him that my mother was going to live, but that God had also told him that one of his sons was going to die. Now, how in the world can you comprehend something like that? Much less accept that as the truth? My Paw Paw Bates did.
My mother was able to get penicillin as it was a very new drug at the time and not very accessible, but none the less, she was able to get some and she did live. I like to think that my mother and Paw Paw Bates had a special bond after that night. The sad part is that my great uncle did die not long after that. According to my grandmother Murphy, a big thunderstorm came one night and they witnessed a hand reach through the window and touch my great uncle right before he died.
The pictures in this blog are of my great grandparents Levi and Lizzie Bates on their wedding day, my mother as a child in front of our house, Paw Paw Bates with my family and of him baptizing someone in the lake.
I often walk through the woods and envision Levi and God talking. I talk to God while I’m there too. I feel my family, comfort and peace with me when I am here on the property.
