Barkstle T Batts

Mr. Barkstle Thomas "Batman" Batts, 81, resident of the Green's Mill Road in Columbia, died Friday, September 24, 2004 at NHC Hillview where he had been confined for the past two weeks. Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 2:30 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols with Rev. Calvin Lunn officiating. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery with full military honors provided by the U. S. Air Force Honor Guard. The family will visit with friends Sunday from 3:30 to 9:00 p.m. and Monday after 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the family in care of Patricia Cates, 2409 Green's Mill Road, Lot 30, Columbia. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the son of the late John Henry Batts and Artie Kate Thompson Batts and attended Maury County schools. He was married October 3, 1942 to the former Bernice Roberson who preceded him in death March 7, 1999. He was a member of the Headquarters Troop 109th Field Artillery at age 16. He was transferred to the 181st Field Artillery at age 17 and entered the Army Air Corps at age 18. During World War II, he served in the European Theatre of Operation and was stationed in Germany, Saudi Arabia, Alaska, Bermuda and Turkey. He participated in many key assignments during the war and received the following military awards and decorations: European-African-American Middle East Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Occupation of Germany Medal, Medal for Humane Action, Berlin Airlift Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal with Silver Loop, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 Oakleaf Clusters. He was honorably discharged with honors from the U. S. Air Force after serving his country for nearly 25 years in different branches. Following retirement from the Air Force, he was employed at Conalco and Union Carbide Corporation, retiring as an industrial electrician from Union Carbide in 1985. Survivors include three daughters, Patricia Cates and Margaret (Calvin) Lunn of Columbia, Bernice (Donald) Smith of Mt. Pleasant; a son, John Henry (Marie) Batts, II of Columbia; 13 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two sons, Barkstle Thomas "Boots" Batts, Jr. and Billy Ray Batts; two sisters, Bettye Llewllyn Batts and Mary Jean Shelton; five brothers, Roy Prosser, Jack Batts, Leland Batts, Billy Burt Batts and Gordon Batts. Active pallbearers are members of the U. S. Air force Honor Guard, Columbus Air Force Base, Columbus, Mississippi. Honorary pallbearers include physicians and staff of Family Health Group, Judge Jimmy Matthews, Dr. Mark Shelton, employees and staff of Superior Orthotics and Prosthetics, Dr. James Marshall, retirees of the maintenance department of Union Carbide, NHC Homecare, NHC Hillview staff and skilled unit, Ronnie Norton, Fred Reed, Shane Hunter, Rev. Charles Bradley and friends at Union Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church.