Margie Rene Bates-Robinson

Margie Rene Newborn Bates-Robinson was born on July 4, 1957 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas to the parentage of L. C. and Roberta Beard Newborn. She was a life-long member of Mt. Morriah Missionary Baptist Church. She received her formal education from the Arkadelphia Public School District, graduating with the Class of 1975 from Arkadelphia Sr. High School and she attended Henderson State University. Margie was employed with the City of Arkadelphia for several years as deputy clerk and retired as a social worker after 28 years of service with the Department of Human Services-Hot Springs County. She was always organized, proficient and timely. “Honey” as she was affectionately called was blessed to be the mother of Shunn and Martesia. She loved her children passionately and was a devoted mother. Margie loved to shop, decorate and cook. She was known for her tasty banana pudding and chicken spaghetti. She enjoyed all types of music and was a Shirley Caesar fan. Margie was the type of person who one could confide in and rely on as a true and trusted friend. Margie and her brothers, Putt, Jesse and Rufus would never say goodbye to one another; they would always say “in a minute” she also had nicknames for her sisters and brothers; Gracie-"Dan", Clara - "Sister", Debbie- "Cleavis", Martin - "Yang" and Rhonda-"Dee".Though she is no longer with us in body, her irreplaceable presence will be deeply missed and her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all those who were impacted by the beautiful life she lived. Margie was preceded in death by parents, Roberta (1997), L.C. (2000); her siblings, L. C. Newborn, Jr., Carolyn Y. Newborn (2004), Rosie Lee Gray (2010) and Johnny C. Newborn (2011); her brother-in-law, John A. Craig; her niece, Rose M. Sundiata, and her nephews, Christopher Newborn and Terry Newborn. She leaves to cherish her precious memories and await her glorious resurrection: her children, Martanian “Shunn” Newborn of Plano, TX, and Martesia Bates (Eddie Fort) of Malvern, AR; seven grandchildren, Adrianna Newborn of Little Rock, Collin Newborn and Cameron Newborn of Plano, TX and their mother, Kimberly Henderson, Maliya Bates, Claira Fort, Princeton Fort and Treasure Fort all of Malvern, AR; her siblings, Gracie (Albert) Neal of Arkadelphia, Clara Craig of Arkadelphia, Rev. Jesse (Faye) Newborn of Arkadelphia, William (Cynthia) Newborn of Malvern, Rufus (Betty) Newborn of Arkadelphia, Debbie (Robert) Harper of Magnolia, Martin (Freda) Newborn of Arkadelphia and Rhonda Newborn of Arkadelphia; her aunts, Birtie (Vernon) Preston, Janice Beard and Mildred Jones all of Dallas, TX and Leola Hall of Flint, MI. She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, her lifetime confidantes Ester N. Mitchell and Belinda N. Hughes, play sister, Inez Brown of Flint, MI; numerous cherished friends and her beloved members of the Mt. Morriah Missionary Baptist Church family. Public visitation will be Friday, October 21, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Samuel L. Vance and Sons Funeral Directors, 413 West Page Avenue in Malvern. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. at Mt. Morriah Missionary Baptist Church, Arkadelphia. A service in honor of her life will be shared at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Vernon Moody, Sr. officiating. Interment will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.