82, died Wednesday, July 15 at Veterans Hospital in the Bronx, NY. He was the son of the late Robert Cates and Fannie Thornton Cates. He was a retired Officer with the Emergency Medical Services of Bronx, NY. He was a 1958 graduate of the former Mary Potter Academy.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Hayes Cates; two daughters, Anita C. Williams of Phoenix, AZ, and Ernestine Hayes of Bronx, NY; a son, Wesley Cates, jr. of the Bronx, NY; two sisters, Lucy Cates O'Dell of Arlington, VA, and Barbara Cates Harris (Phillip)of Oxford; a brother, George T. Cates (Rosa) of Hamden, CT; five grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren

A graveside service (limited to fifty (50) attendees selected by the family with Covid-19 guidelines - face masks and social distancing of six feet or more) will be conducted Saturday, July 25 at 11:00 A.M. at New Hope Granville Baptist Church cemetery by Rev. James Issac III. A viewing will be held Friday, July 24 from 2:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M., limited to not more than ten (10) people in a gathering at any one time.