Mary Yvonne Batten, age 76, of Nicholls died Tuesday evening Dec. 23rd, 2014 at the Bacon County Hospital after an extended illness. She was a native of Bacon County but had lived in Nicholls most of her life. She was daughter of the late John Ira Rigdon and Alma Lott Rigdon and was also preceded in death by her husband James Batten and a sister, Genevieve Meeks. She worked as a care giver for many years and was a member of Saginaw Baptist Church in Nicholls

Survivors include a son, John Edward Gilliard (Linda) of Fleming, GA, a daughter, Rhonda Diane Merritt (Autrey) of Nicholls, three brothers, John Earl Rigdon (Patsy) of Alma, Gerald Rigdon (Kathy) of Kingsland, Randy Ridgon (Wendy) of Glenwood, a sister, Connie Davis (Josh) of Douglas, four grandchildren, James Edward Gilliard (Wendy), Nikki Gilliard, Lee Merritt, Alyssa Carver (Josh) and five great-grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11:00 o'clock at Saginaw Baptist Church in Nicholls with Rev. L G Aldridge officiating. Interment will follow in Mercer Cemetery in Bacon County. The body will be carried to the church at 10:00 AM Saturday to lie in state. The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home Friday evening 6 to 9 PM.

Active pallbearers will be, Eddie Gilliard, Lee Merritt, Josh Carver, Darren Rigdon, Chad Davis and J W Swain. The Senior Adult Sunday School Class will serve as honorary.

Crosby Funeral Home is in charge of all the arrangements.