John C. Batte Jr.

John Carlisle Batte, Jr., 89, passed peacefully into the presence of the Lord on Tuesday, November 6, 2007, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, November 8, 2007, at First Presbyterian Church with burial following in Cedar Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. today at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home on High Street and will resume at 10:00 a.m. Thursday in the Greeting Court Yard of First Presbyterian Church. Services will be officiated by the Reverend Dr. J. Ligon Duncan and the Reverend Brister Ware with music provided by Connie Wadsworth.
Mr. Batte was born on October 26, 1918, in Jackson, the son of the late John & Madolin Batte. A lifelong resident of Jackson, he graduated from Central High School and continued his education at Millsaps College where he was a member of the Alpha MU Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order. Mr. Batte transferred to Mississippi State University, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration. While at Mississippi State he was a member of Beta Tau Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order. He also received his MBA from New York University. Mr. Batte served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the South Pacific Theatre of Operations. After the War, he was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant Commander and continued serving in the Naval Reserves. He returned to Jackson and took over ownership and management of his family business, Batte Furniture. He retired from active management in 1978. Active in both civic and professional organizations, he was a member of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, the Jackson Rotary Club, past president of the Mississippi Furniture Association and past board member of the National Home Furnishing Association. Mr. Batte was a longtime member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder and currently was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson. An avid sailor, he was longtime member of the Jackson Yacht Club. In later years he earned his pilot's license. He will be remembered by his family as a loving husband, a beloved father, a cherished grandfather, great grandfather and friend to all who knew and loved him.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth Jones Batte; sisters, Cordelia Batte McMullan of Jackson and Madolin Batte Megginson of Tupelo.
Survivors include, wife, Rose Slay Batte of Jackson; daughter, Sarah Batte Boswell and her husband, Dr. Bryant R. Boswell of Star; son, John C. Batte, III., and his wife, Joy P. Batte of Ridgeland; step-daughter, Cheryl Archer and her husband, Richard of Colorado Springs, CO; step-daughter, Melanie Butt and her husband, Dr. William Butt of Cartersville, GA; grandchildren, Dr. Peter Boswell and his wife, Laura of Jackson; Ana Boswell Schepens and her husband, Dr. Dan Schepens of Lynchburg, VA; Michael David Boswell of Jackson; Dr. Lindsey Batte McMullan and her husband, Kelly of Jackson; Leighton Batte Mosteller and her husband, Clifton of Mobile, AL; Katie Carlisle. Batte of Washington, D.C.; Robert Hamilton,III and Joshua Hamilton of Colorado Springs, CO; Elizabeth Hamilton of San Antonio, TX; Amanda and Shannon and Mason Butt all of Cartersville, GA; great grandchildren, Grace, Will and John Schepens and Maggie and Brinkley Boswell; brother, Edwin A. Batte and his wife, Doris of Jackson, MS; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to French Camp, One Fine Place, French Camp, MS 39745 or First Presbyterian Church, 1390 N. State Street, Jackson, MS 39202.