Mrs. Bernice A. Battise

Mrs. Bernice Altomese (Branch) Battise, 86, had her transition on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at her residence surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral services for Mrs. Bernice Altomese (Branch) Battise will be held 11:00 A.M., Friday, December 23, 2016 at Historic Nicholsonboro Baptist Church located 13319 White Bluff Rd, Savannah, GA 31419 Rev. Edgar Sams, Pastor.

Visitation with the family will be held from 6PM-7PM at the funeral home Thursday, December 22, 2016.

Interment: Cedar Grove Cemetery.

OBITUARY:

Mrs. Bernice Altomese (Branch) Battise, age 86, died Wednesday, December 14, 2016. Bernice was a native and lifelong resident of Savannah, GA and attended local schools. She was a member of the Historical Nicholsonboro Baptist Church where she served as church historian for many years. Bernice coordinated and managed the process of Nicholsonboro Baptist Church being put on the National Register of Historic places.  The Historical Nicholsonboro is one of the oldest black churches in Chatham County.

She was predeceased by her lifelong spouse of 68 years, Herbert R. Battise, parents James Branch and Froceane (Hayes) Branch, and siblings: James Joseph Branch, Jr, Mattie Mack and Odessa Branch.

She is survived by her children Herbert J. Battise, Jr, Donald Battise (Mildred), Sandy Battise; grandchildren: Herbert J. Battise III, Frieda Jackie (Battise) Johnson, Sandra Bernice (Battise) Lee, Janice Armstrong (Battise) of Huntsville, Alabama, Robert Watkins (Tre) and Tracie Watkins of Huntsville, Alabama; seven great-grandchildren, loving family and life-long friends.

Bernice was born in Savannah, GA in 1930. She attended Beach High School and completed Secretarial training from Savannah Area Vocational-Technical School (1968). She retired from Teacher Retirement System from Chatham County Board of Education after 22 years as an Administrative Secretary.

The visitation for family and friends will be held at Adams Funeral Services, 510 Stephenson Ave., Savannah, GA on Thursday, December 22, 6-7pm.  The funeral services will be held on Friday, December 23rd at Nicholsonboro Baptist Church at 11:00am with Rev. Edgar Sams officiating. Interment to follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery with a reception following at Crusader Community Center, 81 Coffee Bluff Villa Rd, Savannah, GA.

In lieu of flowers, make donations to Alzheimer’s research at www.alz.org