Funeral services for Erma Deane Whinery Batton, 96, of Jackson, TN and formerly of Indianola will be at 2:00 p.m., Friday, February 3 at First United Methodist Church. She died Sunday, January 29 at her home in Jackson, TN. Burial will be in Indianola City Cemetery under the direction of Boone-Card Funeral Home, Indianola.
Erma was born on July 1, 1920 in De Baca County, New Mexico, the daughter of the late James Bryant and Mollie Cartledge Whinery. She graduated first in her class from Indianola High School in 1936 and from Mississippi Delta Junior College. She was married to J.C. “Boots” Batton on July 4, 1943. She and her husband moved to West Tennessee in 1944 to work with Pure Oil in Dyersburg and Ridgely, TN. They returned to Indianola in 1953 where she worked for the Bob Shaw Seed Company, the former Indianola Bank now known as Planters Bank and Trust Company and retired from the Indianola Production Credit Association in 1982. She remained a member of the Indianola First United Methodist Church. She enjoyed doing needlepoint, knitting and crochet as well as playing Bridge with friends. Her family was her life and she took great joy in caring for their needs.
She was preceded in death by husband on May 18, 1990 and a son-in-law, Don E. Souder, Jr.
She is survived by her twin daughters, Barbara Sue Batton Souder and Linda Lou Batton Gray both of Jackson, TN and one grandson, Bryant Batton Gray of Brunswick, GA.
There will be a visitation one hour prior to services at the church. The Rev. Stephen Sparks will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 86, Indianola, MS 38751 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.