Nelze (Zeno) Batchler 1923-2007

Mother Nelze Batchler was the fourth child of five children born to the household of Joseph and Pauline Zeno in Thibodeaux, Louisiana on December 5, 1923. She was educated in the Thibodeaux school district. She enjoyed school. Her joy was reading and writing poetry. She accepted Christ as her savior at Allen Chapel Baptist Church in Thibodeaux during her early teens. She was actively involved in the ministry of that church until moving to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

Nelze went to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi in 1945 for work. During that time she met and married Mr. Albert L. Walker, Jr. To that union was born three wonderful children, Wendell, Lionel and Gaynell. Shortly after they married, the Walkers moved to New Orleans. She later united with the Payne Memorial Methodist Church. She served faithfully as an Usher and shared her poetry from time to time.

Nelze moved to Pulaski County in 1974 to assist her daughter following the birth of her last child. She met and later united with Mr. George Batchler in holy matrimony on the 21st of July during the same year. The marriage lasted for over twenty glorious years. During the tenure of their marriage, nine children were blessed by the joy and love shared by the Batchlers.

Nelze immediately affiliated with the Lieber Heights Chapel on Fort Leonard Wood. She worked with the fellowship ministry in the chapel until uniting with the Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church. Greater Community was blessed by her poetry weekly. She also ushered, worked with the fellowship ministry and became a mother of the church.

She continued her compassion for poetry and reading until she was no longer able to do so. She also loved spending special time with her children, grand, great grand children and friends. She was given by each of them a very special place of honor in their lives.

Nelze was an excellent cook and shared her culinary skills as a cook, supervisory cook and caterer in Mississippi, Louisiana and Missouri. She was in great demand by all that experienced her excellent culinary skills.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Pauline Zeno; her husbands Albert L. Walker, Jr and George Batchler; siblings Herman Zeno, Sr., Willie Mae Southall, Marie Anderson, and Wendell Phillip Zeno and grandchildren Leon Saxton III and Artwin L. Lewis.

She is survived by shared children Wendell Zeno (Betty), Lionel L. Walker, Sr., (Thais) and Gaynell Coleman (John), Edijon Saxton (Leon), Georgie Ann Lawrence (Trotter), Janet Potts (Arlan), John Batcheler (Jennifer), David Batchler (Pat) and James Batchler (Ann); twenty-five grandchildren and 42 great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, August 23, 2007 in the Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church with Dr. William R. Boone officiating. Pastor Irvin Lewis, Sr. prayed the opening prayer and Pastor Eddie Goodman and Minister Helen Boone read Scripture. Soloists Louise Yancy, Elenor Fagins-Jackson, and Thais Walker sang special music and Wanda L. Lewis read one of Mrs. Batchler's beautiful poems. Deacon Issac DuBose gave a special tribute and several family members and friends recalled their special memories of Mrs. Batchler. Serving as escorts were Patrick Blount, Irvin Lewis, Jr., Simon Agelda, Lionel L. Walker, Sr., LeRoy Davis and Robert Johnson. Serving as honorary escorts were John L. Coleman, Brandon Walker, Brynel Walker, Lionel Walker, Jr., Avery LaMalle, John Batchler, James Batchler, David Batchler, Leon Saxton II, Dearvis Alexander and Issac DuBose.

Burial followed in the Waynesville Memorial Park Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Waynesville Memorial Chapel.

5 December, 1923 - 18 August, 2007