Rev. Doris Ann Batts

August 3, 1946 - June 19, 2021

Doris Ann Hodges Batts, affectionately known as Mom, Granny, Auntie, Little Preacher, was the youngest girl of six children born on August 3, 1946, in Richmond, Virginia to Rosalee and Fleetwood Hodges, Sr. After her birth, the family moved to Darlington, South Carolina. Shortly, after the passing of her father, her mother relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina where Doris studied in the North Carolina Public School System. After the passing of her mother, at age 12, she relocated to Richmond, Virginia to live with her older sister, Ida Mae Howard. She continued her secondary education at Maggie L. Walker High School. In 1960, she joined Second Baptist Church under the pastorate of Reverend Odie Brown. It is there that she confessed Christ as her Savior, was baptized, and her Christian journey was sealed. She married Jodie Blowe, Jr. from Emporia, Virginia in 1963. From this union, four children were born, Christil, Monica, Jodie Lamont, and Demetrius. She retired from Henrico County Capital Area Training Consortium after 25 years of faithful service. Doris was a huge advocate for continued education, graduating May 1999 from J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College, earning an Associate degree in Office Systems Technology; and May 2000 from Saint Paul's College, earning a Bachelor's degree in Business Management. As a result of the call to ministry, she began studies at Virginia Union University Samuel Dewitt School of Theology where she earned her Master of Divinity degree in May 2010. In 2007, she was led to Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where she fully dedicated her life to the service of God. At Rising Mt. Zion, she was passionate about teaching the gospel and serving as an associate minister, working closely in assisting her Pastor, Dr. Roscoe D. Cooper III. She regularly attended church worship services, was an active member of Zion Church School, the Spratley Allen Missionary Circle, the Seniors of Zion Ministries, teaching Adult Bible Study and regularly visited the sick to provide encouragement. In addition, she was an active member of the Baptist General Convention Women's Division and a social group called SUITS (Sisters United in The Son). During 2020', as she was experiencing declining health, Doris remained steadfast and led a weekly virtual Bible study and prayer hour with her family. Doris leaves to cherish her memory, four children, Christil Darlene Cates (Joe), Monica DeBerry, Jodie Lamont Blowe and Demetrius Jevon Blowe (Tamara), ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; her brothers, Robert Hodges (Joanne) and Roosevelt Hodges (Geneva); her daughters in love, Denean Anderson and Sonya Broady; and devoted friend of 40 years, Grace Dabbs. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Ida Mae Howard, Fleetwood Hodges, Jr., Edna Mae Hodges, and son-in-law, Brian DeBerry. She fulfilled her ultimate call, in her words to, "share the Good News of the Gospel empowering others in the ways of God's love, forgiveness and salvation power through Jesus Christ." Her favorite scripture was Proverbs 3:5-6 NKN: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.