William "Bill" Jones Bates, Jr.

William Jones Bates, Jr., 79, of Charleston, South Carolina, husband of Cheryl Dangerfield Bates passed away at his home on Sunday, July 23, 2023, of pancreatic cancer. 

Bill was born March 28, 1944 in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, son of the late William Jones Bates and Lida Mae Johnston Bates Ackerman. He began his educational pursuits by attending the Punch and Judy Kindergarten in Pinopolis, SC. He graduated from Berkeley High School in 1962 where he was a three-sport athlete, playing football, baseball and running track. He won the King Teen Scholarship which gave him the opportunity to attend Wofford College. He graduated magna cum laude from Wofford in 1966 with a degree in History. During his time at Wofford, Bill was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, served as Blue Key Corresponding Secretary and was president of the Student Christian Council.  He worked for the Dean of Students, Frank Logan, who became “Uncle Frank” to Bill’s children. He received a scholarship to Duke University School of Law.  He earned his Juris Doctorate with honors in 1969. He was later hired by Bob Clement, who became his mentor and friend. He began his law career in 1969 at Young Clement Rivers, 28 Broad Street, where he worked for 46 years until his retirement. Bill served as president of Land Title Agency, LLC and held the office of chairman of the Real Estate Section of the South Carolina Bar among many other professional accolades.

During his boyhood summers, Bill attended Boys State and was a camp counselor at Asbury Hills Methodist Camp. He was a college basketball fan and served as president of the College of Charleston Cougar Club. An avid lifelong reader and student of history, he served as a board member and trustee of the Charleston Museum. A special area of interest was South Carolina’s role in the Revolutionary War. He served as president of the Charlestowne Neighborhood Association, and as a member of the Wofford Alumni Association Board and a Class Agent. As a member of Bethel United Methodist Church, he attended the Everett Spell Sunday School class, taught Senior High Sunday School and volunteered as a parent helper with the MYF.

Bill is survived by his wife of 52 years, Cheryl; three daughters, Amy B. Winfield (Jason) of Hickory, NC, Lauren B. Lynn (Stephen) of Charleston, SC and Elliott B. Cooper (Paul) of Columbia, SC; seven grandchildren: Henry Grey Winfield, William Bennett Winfield, Robert Elliott Winfield, William Miller Lynn, Lida Hariot Lynn, Mary Bates Cooper and Wright Coker Cooper; one sister, Susan Ackerman of Charleston, SC; and one brother, Martin Ackerman of Moncks Corner, SC.

 He was predeceased by his father who died in August of 1944 and is buried in Normandy, France; his mother; and his loving aunt, Jackie Johnston, who helped raise him.

Bill was a man of principal whose loyalty and dedication were felt by his family and friends. He fondly recalled his childhood in Moncks Corner saying it was a “grand place” to grow up. He was “head of the family” for his mother, aunt, siblings, wife and three daughters. He was constant in his love for Cheryl as they spent 52 beautiful years together in Charleston and the mountains of Lake Junaluska, NC.  Their focus was their family.  They could often be seen holding hands and enjoyed reading the Sunday comics together.  Bill supported her love of travel and she his love of home. He loved his “Bates Girls”, attending school programs and sporting events, providing calm counsel through all life’s ups and downs and fondly checking in on the adventures of his grandchildren. He was the dedicated owner of an English Springer Spaniel, Chock, for 11 years. Bill walked Chock, his constant companion, multiple times a day, making friends with two legs and four all along the way.

His funeral service will be held Saturday, July 29, 2023 in Bethel United Methodist Church, 57 Pitt Street, at 11:00 a.m. followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel. 

Memorials may be made to the Frank and Madeline Logan Scholarship Fund, Wofford College, 429 North Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303 or to Bethel United Methodist Church (memo line: Columbarium Fund), 57 Pitt Street, Charleston, SC 29401.