Mrs. Donna Sue Ayers Batten, 91, of the Mt. Olive Community of Nichols passed from this life on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. She was born on January 9, 1933 to John Clifford Ayers, Sr. and Fleetwood Causey Ayers.

Donna was the most-loving, generous, and devoted wife and was preceded in death by her husband, John E. Batten, III, and her brother, Dr. Jack Ayers. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Batten Lipscomb (Lenny), son, Jeb Batten (Karen), and cherished niece, Beth Ayers Powell (Mark), She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Lynn Ayers and her brother-in-law, Welch Batten.

Donna faithfully doted on her family, friends, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was the matriarch of six grandchildren: John Richard Lipscomb (Kelsey), Eric Lipscomb (Adrienne), Brian Lipscomb (Grace), Clifford Batten, Kate Batten, and Lilli Batten. She was quick to share photos and stories of the accomplishments of her eight great-grandchildren as well: Tabitha Lipscomb, Gideon Lipscomb, Sabrina Lipscomb, Lorelai Lipscomb, Felicity Lipscomb, Scarlett Lipscomb, Leif Lipscomb, and Ollie Batten.

Donna graduated from Floyds High School at age 16, attended Converse College then later continued her studies to receive her BA and MA in Education from USC. During her thirty-year teaching career, Donna taught at Lake View Elementary School, Lakewood Elementary School and served as a Reading Consultant for Horry County School district. She was a past president of the local Delta Kappa Gamma honorary teaching society.

Donna was an accomplished artist (in both watercolor and oils), excellent seamstress, avid gardener, interior decorator, talented in the culinary arts and a renowned marathon shopper.

Donna and John enjoyed a marriage of 68 years blessed with family, friends, travel, and Donna's legendary shopping excursions. She was generous to a fault. Her laugh was bold and joyous! Donna always kept a smile and her favorite phrase that she shared affectionately was, "I love you!"

On her retirement from teaching and John's retirement from his private law practice, they returned to her beloved childhood home in Mt. Olive. There they enjoyed renewed friendships and were active members of Mt. Olive Baptist Church-the same church where she was baptized and where they were married in 1951.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 19, 2024 in the chapel of Meares Funeral Home in Mullins. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Donna's lifelong friend, Sadie Shoe, for her faithful loving care and attention. We are so grateful for all of Donna's Opal Fax Sunday School class members, her many supportive home-care givers, Reverend Stephen Vipperman and Reverend Mike Vipperman. The family would also like to express their gratitude to the staff at Loris Rehab and Nursing Center and the doctors and nursing staff at McLeod Loris Hospital for the compassionate and professional care given to Donna.

If you would like to remember Donna, donations may be made in her memory to Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 1950 Mt. Olive Church Road, Nichols, South Carolina 29581.

An online guestbook is available at www.mearesfh.com.