Margaret Branham Batson, age 74, of Madison died Monday in Auburn, Alabama. Margaret was born November 30, 1940 in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Harriet (Costello) and Clifford Branham. She graduated from Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga in 1958 and attended The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga before marrying the love of her life, Norman Batson, in 1961. The couple resided in Moses Lake, Washington; Yuba City, California; and Birmingham, Alabama before finally making Huntsville, Alabama their permanent home in 1963.
While Margaret cherished the exciting travels during the early years of her marriage, her life’s greatest treasure was her family. Even as a young girl, she dreamed of having a large family of her own, and we are forever grateful that her dream was realized. Her love for her husband, children, and grandchildren was surpassed only by her unwavering faith in God and devotion to the Catholic Church.
She will be remembered by all who knew and loved her for her quick wit, keen instinct, inspiring faith, and inexplicable ability to welcome and feed a crowd on a moment’s notice with warmth and grace.
Margaret is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 53 years, Norman Batson, and six children: Mike (Nancy) Batson of Hendersonville, TN; Paul (Jo) Batson of Madison; Pat (Debbie) Batson of Huntsville; Tommy Batson of Greenville, SC; Greg (Tanya) Batson of Birmingham; and Susie (Robert) Weigel of Auburn. Additionally, she is survived by 14 grandchildren who were her life’s pride: Matthew, Will, and John Batson of Hendersonville, TN; Zach, Sydney, and Avery Batson of Madison; Jack and Maggie Batson of Greenville, SC; Jonah, Joshua, and Lila Batson of Birmingham; and Hayden, Evan, and Stella Weigel of Auburn.
Visitation will be held at Berryhill Funeral Home Thursday, March 5th from 5 to 8pm (Rosary at 6pm). The Funeral Mass will be held Friday, March 6th at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Chapel at 10am. Burial will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hospice of EAMC. http://hospiceangels.org/ways-to-give/ Berryhill Funeral Home is assisting the family.