Annette Herndon Batchelor

            Annette Herndon Batchelor, age 76, of Iron City, Georgia passed away Friday, March 21, 2014 at Seminole Manor Nursing Home in Donalsonville, Georgia, after a long illness.               Annette was born January 21, 1938, in Harbison City, FL, in Franklin County. She was the daughter of the late Fletcher James Herndon and the late Lottie Louise Lovett Herndon of Chattahoochee, FL. She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Donald O’Brien Batchelor, Sr., in 2006.               A graduate of Chattahoochee High School, Chattahoochee, FL, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, Middle School Education and Secondary English from the University of South Florida and a Master’s, plus a Specialist’s degree, in Library Science from Florida State University. She taught school in the Pinellas County School System in Clearwater, FL, before moving to Seminole County, GA, in 1978, where she taught in the middle school before assuming the position of Media Specialist at Seminole County High School. She retired from education in June, 2003.               During her educational career, she was a member of professional education associations in Florida and in Georgia, as well as the District Media Association in Georgia.  She was elected Teacher of the Year 2000 by her peers at Seminole County High School.  She always found happiness and fulfillment by working with and teaching young people, and maintained that the greatest gift to give someone was knowledge and a motivation to learn and succeed.               Annette spent many years helping her son’s scout troop prepare for camp-outs and jamborees, and was a Cub Scout leader and den mother for years, while her husband was always a scout leader of his troop. She spent countless hours working the snack bar at the Little League baseball field and helping to prepare for the year-end baseball award ceremony.  In addition, she spent happy hours encouraging the players at the soccer games and waiting patiently for her son’s music lessons of the week to end.     She worked tirelessly with her son and his activities, while her husband, Don, was always a scout leader or the manager of a baseball or soccer team.               Annette was always very active in her church and taught children and adult Sunday School classes, as well as Vacation Bible School classes, for many years.  She held many positions in her church, from teacher to Chairman of the Board and church secretary. Her church work was dear to her heart, and she never refused a request to help in any way she could, from supplying flowers to ensuring that the sanctuary was prepared for the Lent and Advent. Using church and district records, she compiled a church history for the 100th celebration of the Iron City United Methodist Church in 1997.               In addition, Annette was a charter member of the Iron city Ladies Club, as well as being a past member of a social sorority and other service and social clubs and organizations in Clearwater, FL, and the ladies Hospital Auxiliary and the Junior Woman’s Club in St. Augustine, FL.               Her survivors include a son, Donald O’Brien Batchelor, Jr., of Destin, FL; and one granddaughter, Lindsey Nicole Batchelor, of Destin, FL; two sisters, Ruby Nell Bogert of Chattahoochee, FL, and Mary Louise Atkinson and husband, Stewart of Tallahassee, FL and a sister-in-law, Peggy Herndon of Destin, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Don, a sister, Betty Sue Gumanis and a brother, Fletcher James Herndon, Jr.               Funeral services for Mrs. Batchelor will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Iron City Methodist Church with Rev. Dan Harper officiating. The family will visit with friends immediately following the service in the church.               In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Iron City United Methodist Church, % of Mrs. Pat Mathis, P.O. Box 62, Iron City, GA 39859, or a charity of your choice.