Celebrating the life of James "Jim" Calvin Batchelor
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Obituary for James "Jim" Calvin Batchelor
James “Jim” Calvin Batchelor passed away unexpectedly at his home Wednesday, March 25th. Jim, better known as Papa, to those who loved him most, was born in Fannin County on November 4, 1947 to the late Jessie Calvin Batchelor and Carrie Ellen Davis. His family moved to Eatonton when he was around five years old. Jim graduated from high school as a Blue Devil with the Class of 1967 and joined the U.S. Navy right after graduation. He served on the U.S.S. John King on the Mediterranean Sea for two years as a gunners mate. After his honorable discharge in 1969, he returned to Eatonton and to his former job at the Colonial Store. Many people have very fond memories of Jim working in the Colonial store. Kids wanted to go shopping with their Moms just to go and see Jim. He always had a smile, a hug, or a joke for all of them. In 1970 while at the Tastee Freeze, Jim would meet the love of his life, Janet Spears Batchelor. They would be married in less than a year, on July 16, 1971. The young couple started their family on April 14, 1972 with the birth of their daughter, Sabrina Dawn. Three years later, on March 10, 1975, their son Jason “Buck” was born and soon after, Jim started working for the International Paper Company as a chipping saw operator. In 1991, the family moved to Hinesville GA where Jim worked for the Department of Defense at Fort Stewart for a short time until Janet’s Mother’s health issues brought them back to Eatonton so that they could care for her. After returning to Eatonton, Jim worked for Horton Homes until he retired in 2009. “Retirement” suited Jim well because it gave him the time to do what he loved to do the most and that was to take care of his family. Above all, Jim loved spending time with Janet, their children, and their grandchildren. He cooked for them, made sure everyone got to work or school, and shuttled boys to ball practice. He loved doing any and everything that his family wanted to do… hunting, fishing, ball games, or just riding in the truck with the windows down on a pretty day. Jim always thought of others and never hesitated to help a neighbor. All you had to do was call him and he would be there to take off trash or “remove” an armadillo. It was not uncommon for Jim and C.J. to just show up at your house with a mower and a weed eater or a rake and a blower to fix up the yard. Jim was also known for picking up “them damn pecans”, shelling them with a hammer until C.J. found him a good cracker. While Janet was deployed in Iraq, Jim and Dawn would drive all over three counties trying to find every single item on her wish list for a “care package.” Janet said “He was the Sunshine in my life” and though their family went through some tough and trying times, Jim would always say “Baby, we are going to make it….” And they always did. For 43 years, they were a couple that loved and supported each other through the good times and the bad. Jim by all accounts was truly one of a kind. He had a smile and a sense of humor that was infectious. Jim saw the good in everyone and you could depend on him for anything. Most of all, Jim loved his family.
Jim is survived by his loving wife Janet, and his children: Jason (Melissa) Batchelor and daughter Sabrina Dawn Booth (Ryan) and his grandchildren Christian, Christie, Ramsey, & Maggie all of Eatonton. He is also survived by three brothers: Robert “Butch” (Nell) Batchelor, Johnny (Linda) Batchelor and Charles Batchelor and four sisters, Christine “Tine” (Carl) Jackson, Sharon “Sherrie” Wilson, Wanda Johnson, and Lynn (Robbie) Johns, all of Eatonton. Jim was preceded in death by his brother Harold Batchelor and sisters Arizona Elizabeth “Bo” Batchelor Mize and Alice June Batchelor Greenway. The visitation will be at Vining Ivy Hill Chapel on Friday, March 27, 2015 from 6 to 8 PM, service will be on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at Grace Baptist Church at 1 PM
