Miss Meredith O’Neal Bates and Mr. John Baxter McWhirter were united in marriage at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 5, 2017, at the Highlands Country Club in Highlands, N.C. The bride is the daughter of Mrs. Rosemary and Mr. James Emile Bates Jr. of Gainesville. The groom is the son of Mrs. Rae and Mr. Thomas Frederick McWhirter Jr. of Atlanta.