Loretta H. Scates

May 3, 1943 – May 29, 2023

Services

Friday, June 16, 2023

Public Viewing: 4:00 P.M. – 5:30 P.M.

Mass: 5:30 P.M. – 6:30 P.M.

Held at

St. Ignatius of Antioch

601 Bell Road

Antioch, Tennessee

****

Saturday, June 17, 2023

Graveside Service: 10:00 A.M.

Memory Gardens

Centerville, Tennessee

Loretta Holland Scates, affectionately known as “Cricket” peacefully departed this life on May 29, 2023, at The Meadows Senior Living Community in Nashville, TN. God blessed her to see 80 years before calling His faithful servant home.

Loretta was born on May 3,1943 in Shelbyville, TN to the late William Lee Holland, Sr. and Hattie Elizabeth Holland. The youngest of 4 children, she was raised in a loving, God-fearing home and was taught to love both her family and Christ. At the early age of 11, she was baptized at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Shelbyville, TN. 

She received her early education in the Bedford County Schools system and her High School diploma from Bedford County Training School in 1961. She attended Tennessee A&I State University in Nashville, TN majoring in Education and graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1965.

While at TSU, she pledged and became a member of the Alpha Beta chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. It was also at TSU where she met Marshall Ray Scates.  After graduating, they were married and moved to Detroit, MI in 1966. They later had 3 daughters, Kathryne, Darlene and Yvette.

While in Detroit, Loretta became a member of the Bathsheba Chapter #9 Order of the Eastern Star.  In 1969 she converted to Catholicism and remained an active and devout Catholic until her passing. Her faith in God, the Holy Bible and Jesus Christ were a major part of the life she lived and loved.

She was employed in the Detroit Public Schools System for over 25 years and continued working in education until her retirement. She was an advocate for higher learning and always encouraged continued education. To know her was a blessing.

She was a loving mother to her daughters and a devoted wife to her husband for nearly 37 years until his passing in 2003. Shortly after her husband’s death, she moved “back home” to Tennessee to be closer to her daughters and family.

She enjoyed singing, playing the piano and was an incredibly talented artist in her own right. She loved watching musicals and westerns on TV and loved gatherings with family and friends. She had a warm and kind spirit and tried to spread love wherever she went. She had her own unique ways of doing things and her presence on this earth will be dearly missed by many.

She is preceded in death by her parents, William Lee Holland Sr. and Hattie Elizabeth Holland; her sister, Mai Dee Hendricks; her brother, William Lee Holland Jr. and her husband, Marshall Ray Scates.Loretta’s life will be forever cherished by her loving brother, John Holland Sr.; her sisters-in-law, Glyndon Singleton, Mable Scates, Clara Moore, and Mary Flagg; her brother-in-law, Joseph (Brenda) Scates Sr.; her devoted daughters, Kathryne Scates, Darlene (George) Lester and Yvette Scates; her grandchildren, Sean Lester, Mariah (Zae) Sway, Joshua (Callie) Lester, Ryan O’Neal, Kevin Griffin (*Mackenzie Mullinax) and Kassia Bryant; her great-grandchildren, Khalil Griffin, Kharri Griffin, Khalesia Griffin and Kinsley Lester; and a loving multitude of cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives and dear friends.  Mom loved each one of you very much.