James Batchler

Blacksburg -- James Dewey Batchler, 85, 360 Batchler Drive, passed away Thursday, August 27, 2009 at the Regional Hospice Home. Born in Blacksburg, Mr. Batchler was the husband of Lucille Pierce Batchler and the son of the late Jacob Crockett (Boss) and Annie Mae Allison Batchler. Mr. Batchler had dedicated his life to service. He served God as a member of Hopewell Baptist Church, he served his country as a United States Marine in WWII, and he served Cherokee County on the Cherokee County Council since 1967. As councilman, he was helpful in the Peachtree Centre renovation and was very instrumental in obtaining grants and monies for getting water on the Blacksburg side of Broad River, the paving of many roads, and the new Blacksburg Library. In his eleven terms on the Cherokee County Council, Mr. Batchler served as Chairman for three different years (1984, 1990, and 1996) and he served on the Finance, Public Works, Judicial Services, and Human Services Committees for several years. In 2007, as a thank you for what he had done in his years of service as councilman, the new bridge between Blacksburg and Gaffney on Highway 29 was named the "James D. Batchler Bridge." Mr. Batchler was always a strong supporter of law enforcement and rural fire departments, having been instrumental in replacing old Sheriff Patrol automobiles with new and having served on the Board of Directors for CKC Fire Department at one time. He also served on the Appalachian Council of Government Board of Directors, where he also served on the Fiscal Policy Committee, he was a member of the Masonic Lodge #202 AFM, where he was the Master of Lodge for three years, he was a past member of the S.C. Association of Counties Advisory Board, and was a past member of Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union Counties Private Industry Council. In addition to his wife, Mr. Batchler is survived by a son, Craig Batchler and wife, Lori, of Blacksburg; a daughter, Barbara B. Haggard and husband, Ralph, of Blacksburg; a sister, Mabel Pruitt of Blacksburg; two grandchildren, Robbie Haggard and wife, Michelle, and Dalton Batchler, all of Blacksburg; and two great-grandchildren, Jason and Jacob Haggard of Blacksburg. In addition to his parents, Mr. Batchler was preceded in death by four brothers, Drayton, J.C., Roland, and Roy Batchler. The family will receive friends from 7 until 8:30 Saturday evening at Hopewell Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held Sunday, August 30, 2009, at three o'clock at Hopewell Baptist Church, with Rev. Terry Lowe, Mayor David Hogue, and Mrs. Lori Batchler officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Meals on Wheels, Post Office Box 1886, Gaffney, SC 29342. The family will be at the residence. The Book of Memories is available at www.gordonmortuary.com.