Mr. Gene Ray Batts, 71, passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2014, at the Annie Penn Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

A funeral service will be held for Mr. Batts at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 22, at the Forbis & Dick Brooke Chapel in Stokesdale. Burial will follow at 4:00 p.m. in the Williams Family Cemetery in Beulaville.

A native of Onslow County, Mr. Batts was born on June 10, 1943, the son of the late William Eldridge and Caroline Albertson Batts. He was a retired truck driver and member of Newlyn Street United Methodist Church in Greensboro. On January 26, 2001 he married Barbara Odell.

Surviving are his wife, Barbara O. Batts of the home; children Anthony Gene Batts and his wife, Sharon, of Reidsville, Timmy Ray Batts and his wife, Aldenia, of Trinity, and Wanda Batts of Charlotte; sisters Betty Hobbs of Richlands and Wanda Powell of Beulaville; four grandchildren Taylor Batts, Colton Batts, Rhett Isenhoward and Claudia Edwards; step-children Calvin Southard and his wife, Debbie, of Reidsville, Brian Kent Southard and his fiancée', Janet, of Rural Hall, and Kimberly Bishop and her husband, Robert, of Kernersville; and ten step grandchildren Joshua Southard, Dakota Southard, Heather Blowers, Austin Southard, Mahlon Blowers, Madison Southard, Sierra Southard, Joey Bishop, James Bishop, and Sarah Bishop.

The family will receive friends Monday evening from 7 until 9 p.m. at the funeral home and other times at the home.

Memorial donations may be directed to Hospice of Rockingham County, PO Box 281, Wentworth, NC 27375.

On-line condolences may be offered at www.forbisanddick.com and at JDNews.com.