CHARLOTTE CH, Nov. 25 – Claudia Shaw “Pinky” Bates, 57, of Charlotte Court House, daughter of the late Claude Raymond Shaw and the late Virginia Pugh Shaw, departed this life on Wednesday, November 19, 2008. She leaves behind a loving husband, W. Murrie Bates Jr., along with her devoted sister, Deloca Payne Henshaw; half-sister, Evelyn Pinkum; and nieces, Mary Margaret Payne and Amber Rae Henshaw.

Pinky was an elder and Sunday school teacher at the Village Presbyterian Church, with a deep love for her Savior, Jesus Christ. She was an educator in Charlotte County for 30 years, serving as a teacher, a middle school assistant principal and principal as well as Director of Instruction. She had been president of the Charlotte County Branch of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and the Piedmont Chapter of the educational society, Phi Delta Kappa. She served in leadership roles in several other civic organizations.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Village Presbyterian Church, Charlotte Court House with interment at Rough Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery near Phenix.

Donations may be made to the Village Presbyterian Church, PO Box 300, Charlotte Court House, VA 23923 or to The Charlotte County Retired Teachers Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Mrs. Ruth Brogdon, 1991 Bacon School Rd., Saxe, VA 23967.

The Browning Funeral Home, Keysville, was in charge of the arrangements.