Verna May Bateman, 88, of Rector, died Saturday, June 4, 2005, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould.

Born Nov. 18, 1916, to the late Joseph Hughes and Mattie (Massey) Hughes, she was a homemaker and a member of the Boydsville Baptist Church and Rector First Baptist Church.

She was married Nov. 18, 1934, to Claude Bateman, who preceded her in death Jan. 6, 1982.

She also was preceded in death by one son, Travis Lester Bateman; two daughters, Veda Lou Bateman and Frances Page; one brother, Elmer Hughes, and one great-grandchild.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Tony and Margo Bateman of Memphis; two daughters and sons-in-law, Reba and Gerald Young of St. Louis and Verla and Jim Parsons of Southaven, Miss.; one brother, D.W. Hughes of Phoenix, Ariz.; two sisters, Ozela Haynes of Emerson, Ark., and Emma Greer of Greshem, Ore.; nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

Funeral services were at 12 p.m. Monday, June 6, at Rector First Baptist Church with Rev. Ardell Polk officiating. Burial was in Woodland Heights Cemetery with Irby Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers were Keith Young, Ben Young, Josh Young, David Parsons, Rick Jackson, Wesley Page, Travis Bateman, Cody Bateman, Denny Fears, Nathan Fears, Clay Fears and Chris Thompson.