Frances Susan Williamson Bateman

Mrs. Frances Susan Williamson Bateman, age 98, of Sandersville, passed away on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at her residence.  A graveside service to celebrate her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at the Old City Cemetery. Reverend Stan Littleton will officiate.

Mrs. Bateman was born and raised in Bellemina, Alabama, the daughter of the late Hoyt and India Ella Williamson.  Alabama was always special to her, and she returned every year for Christmas and for several weeks in the summer as long as her parents were alive. She met her husband, Osgood Bateman at Auburn where he was in Veterinary School, and she was studying Home Economics.  He said when he first saw her, she was the prettiest girl that he had ever seen. They moved to Sandersville in 1947.

Mrs. Bateman helped to set up the Library and Historical Room at SUMC and volunteered numerous hours there. She did research on the Methodist Circuit Rider Preachers and their wives. She was a member of the Washington County Historical Society and helped set up and volunteered at the Genealogy Museum. She had many other creative interests, including furniture refinishing, landscaping, gardening, floral arrangements, and sewing (making many of her and her daughter’s clothes in the 1950’s and 1960’s.)  Mrs. Bateman was also an excellent cook and enjoyed hosting parties and holiday meals for her friends and family. She especially enjoyed attending cooking classes at Sea Island. She was a member of numerous local clubs.

She enjoyed various physical activities such as walking and water aerobics. Also, in her 60’s and 70’s she and Osgood took up ballroom dancing and travelled to Florida for competitions. Mrs. Bateman was a very active and caring person, always wanting to take care of others as well as any animal that needed special attention. She worked with her husband for many years in his Veterinary practice.

Mrs. Bateman enjoyed time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Osgood Massee Bateman Sr; sons, Osgood Massee Bateman Jr. and Gregory Hilliard Bateman and brother, Hoyt Earl Williamson.  Survivors are her daughter, India Bateman of Colorado and Sandersville; grandchildren, Alexander Bateman, James Bateman, Valmiki Bateman, Naveen Bateman, and Rebecca Bateman; daughters in law, Anne B. Bateman of Warthen, Sumana Brahman of Washington D.C.; and her close friend for over 75 years, Bernice Strickland.  We also acknowledge her long-time caregivers who meant so much to her: Joeann Adams, Linda Williams, Shakeytha Maze and Retha Biggins.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Christian Life Center, P.O. Box 5057, Sandersville, Ga. 31082.

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May & Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements