Services for Billy Gene Batson, of Lucien, will be held at 11a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 24, at Lucien Baptist Church with burial inthe church cemetery. Riverwood Family Funeral Service is in chargeof arrangements.

Visitation is Wednesday from 5 until 8 p.m. at the church.

Mr. Batson, 76, died Jan. 22, 2008, at King’s Daughters MedicalCenter. He was born on April 25, 1931, to Eugene Batson and EstelleMadison Batson.

He was a retired pharmacist from Franklin Memorial Hospital inMeadville, and had been a pharmacist with East Pharmacy and BegleyPatterson Drug Stores in Brookhaven. He was a graduate ofPascagoula High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree fromSamford University in Birmingham, Ala. He was a veteran of theUnited States Army and served in the Korean War. He was a member ofLucien Baptist Church. He enjoyed being a pharmacist, farming andraising Polled Hereford cattle for hobby. He was a beloved husband,father and grandfather.

Preceding him in death were his parents and his sister, LouiseBatson Azwell.

Survivors are his wife, Catherine Day Batson; his daughter,Cathy Batson McDonnieal and husband Robert, of Brookhaven; hisbrother, Jerry Batson and wife Betty June, of Brookhaven; and hisgrandchildren, Grantham Day McDonnieal and Mary CatherineMcDonnieal.

Memorials may be made to Lucien Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, inLucien.