8-K

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                             ----------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

               Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                     November 20, 2003 (November 20, 2003)

                            ----------------------

                           COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

         DELAWARE                     0-16461                    63-0868361
(State or Other Jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)      (I.R.S. Employer
      of Incorporation)                                   Identification Number)

                               68149 MAIN STREET
                          BLOUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA 35031
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                                 (205) 429-1000
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (Former Name or Former Address, If Changed From Last Report)



ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

         On November 20, 2003 the Board of Directors of the Registrant received
a letter (the "Letter") dated November 14, 2003 from Kennon R. Patterson, Sr.,
former Chairman, President and CEO of the Registrant, stating that Mr.
Patterson has taken an immediate leave of absence from the Registrant's Board
of Directors, pending the disposition of the charges against him contained in
an indictment issued by a federal grand jury on October 29, 2003. In the Letter
Mr. Patterson said that he would not seek or accept a new term as a director if
his current term expires prior to a final resolution of the charges against
him. A copy of the Letter is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated
herein by reference.

         Mr. Patterson's employment with the Registrant and its subsidiary,
Community Bank, was terminated on January 27, 2003, and Mr. Patterson was
removed as a director of Community Bank on February 6, 2003.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)      The following exhibits are filed herewith:

Exhibit Number         Description
- --------------         -----------
99.1                   Letter from Kennon R. Patterson, Sr. to the Registrant's
                       Board of Directors dated November 14, 2003




                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.




By:  /s/ Patrick M. Frawley
     -----------------------------------------------
     Patrick M. Frawley
     Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

Date: November 20, 2003




EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number        Description
- --------------        -----------
99.1                  Letter from Kennon R. Patterson, Sr. to the Registrant's
                      Board of Directors dated November 14, 2003

EX-99.1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1

                               November 14, 2003

Board of Directors
Community Bancshares, Inc.
Post Office Box 1000
Blountsville, AL 35031

Dear Board Members:

         This is to inform you that, effective immediately, I am taking a leave
of absence from my position and duties as a director of Community Bancshares,
Inc., Blountsville, Alabama. This leave of absence will remain in effect until
the final disposition of the charges in the indictment issued against me by the
grand jury in the United States District Court for the Northern District of
Alabama on October 29, 2003.

         During the term of my leave of absence, I agree not to vote for a
director, serve as an officer, director or otherwise participate in any manner
in the conduct of the affairs of Community Bancshares, Inc., any nonbank
subsidiary thereof, Community Bank, Blountsville, Alabama or any institution
specified in section 8(e)(7)(A) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as
amended (12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(7)(A)).

         In the event that my term of office as a director of Community
Bancshares, Inc. ends before the final disposition of the indictment, I will
not seek or accept a new term as a director of Community Bancshares, Inc.

                               Sincerely,

                               /s/ Kennon R. Patterson, Sr.

                               Kennon R. Patterson, Sr.

KRP:jo

cc:      Mr. Dwight Blackwood
         Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta