Lucy J. Bateman
March 6, 1928 – November 4, 2024 

 On November 4, 2024, Lucy Gray Jones Bateman, 96, heard the voice and call of the Good Shepherd, her Lord and Savior.

The oldest of twelve children, Miss Lucy, was born on March 6, 1928, to Walter Alonzo and Mabel Cahoon Jones in the Gum Neck Community of Tyrrell County. Having missed several days of school, Lucy dropped out of school to help her mother with housework and rearing children.  After raising her own family, she received her GED.

On March 31, 1945, at the age of 17, she married the love of her life, Dallas Emanuel Bateman who predeceased her. They moved to the Soundside Community of Tyrrell County. Left to cherish the memories of their parents are three children, Roy Allen Bateman and his wife Pat of Columbia, Kenneth Ray Bateman and his wife Janice of Smithfield, NC, and Cheryl Dawn Fitzgerald and her husband Mike of Williamston.

Grandma Lucy made each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren feel special and loved. They include Michele B. Jackson, Roy Allen Bateman, Jr. and his wife Stacey, Laura Elizabeth Bateman, Joel Emanuel Bateman and his wife Emily, Eric Michael Fitzgerald and his wife Sindy, and Stacy Renee Gardner and her husband Raymond. Greatgrandchildren include Johnathan Williams, Christian Bateman, Allison Bateman, Ava Fitzgerald, Olivia Fitzgerald, Liam Gardner, and Gatlin Gardner. Lucy is survived by her sister, Judy Cahoon of Kilkenny, and brother, Lawrence Jones, of Columbia.

She is predeceased by nine of her eleven siblings: Phillip, Nellie, Dimple, Eunice, Pricilla, Arnold, Wilma, Doris, and Morris. Together, Lucy and Dallas had 37 nieces and nephews.

A period of visitation will be held from 6 to 8 PM at Bryan Funeral Service in Columbia on Thursday, November 7, 2024. The service of worship and commitment will be held at Soundside Missionary Baptist Church on Friday, November 8, 2024, at 11:00 AM. Pastors Charlie Rice and Prudencio Casas will officiate. The burial will follow at the family plot in the church cemetery.

Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions can be made to Soundside Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 422 Bridgepath Road, Columbia NC 27925.

Arrangements are by Bryan Funeral Service, Columbia.

John 10: 14-18

 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”