Published: August 19, 2008 03:03 pm         

Jo F. Bateman

Aug. 8, 2008



A memorial service for Jo F. Bateman will be held in the Pleasant Hill Congregational Church at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30. She was born in Saltillo, TN, and passed away Aug. 8 in Pleasant Hill, where she and her husband resided at Uplands Retirement Village. Her death followed a lengthy illness during which she received intensive medical care.



She was preceded in death by her parents, Reuben and Leona White, and by a sister, Gail, and by their son, William Jr.



Mrs. Bateman is survived by her husband of 52 years, Chaplain (Colonel) William F. Bateman, U.S. Army, Ret.; daughters, Susan Diane Pitts and Jo Katherine Weaver; grandchildren, Rebecca, Brandon and Noah; sisters, Mrs. Betty Snowden, Mrs. Judy Wilder and Mrs. Brenda Trouse; and by neices and nephews.



She graduated high school in 1954 in Somerville, TN; attended Union University in Jackson, TN, on an academic scholarship; graduated Indiana University with a B.S. in education and taught school for several years. She taught English and Latin, and led the drama club. She also graduated the University of Maryland with honors, earning the B.S. in nursing, and Central Michigan University with a master's degree in health administration. She served one year as the Red Cross director of volunteers and one year as an emergency room nurse at Fort Meade, MD.



Starting as a surgical staff nurse at the Fayetteville, NC Veterans Affairs hospital, Mrs. Bateman remained for 14 years, rising to patient education trainer, and retiring as the coordinator of nursing education. She especially loved nursing education and believed it combined the best possible challenges for her personal interests. In the latter position, she helped develop and implement the VA graduate level nurse practioner program. Over time, she received four promotions, was frequently cited for outstanding performance of duty, and worked diligently to identify, reach and include needy veterans in VA programs of assistance.



She was a faithful, cheerful and wonderful wife, a loving mother with unending patience, and a friend and helper to many when needed as she assisted her husband in the many facets of pastoral ministry, in both civilian and military settings. For many years she was a choir member, Sunday school teacher and youth group leader. At mid-life, she took up jogging and won several racing awards at Fort Bragg, NC. Kind, gracious and respectful to everyone without exception, she was an inspiring model of Christian faith and service, and lived, in her words, in debt to pastors and teachers who toved, taught and inspired her.



In lieu of flowers, consider a gift or a prayer for the Steeple and Cross fund of Westminster Presbyterian church, which will move into a new Fairfield Glade facility early next year. Temporary address is 24 Peavine Road, Suite 101, Crossville, TN, 38571.



Following the public memorial service on Aug. 30, her cremains will be laid to rest in a memory garden in Pleasant Hill, TN, her home state.