Albert Battle Obituary

The Funeral Service for Mr. Albert Henry Battle III of Americus, Georgia will be held Saturday, January 11, 2025, at noon at Allen Chapel AME Church, 132 Bumphead Road, Americus, Georgia. The family will receive friends at their home at 203 Rucker St. on Tuesday, January 7th and Wednesday, January 8th from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M.
Albert Henry Battle III was born on March 7, 1951, the son of the late Albert Battle Jr. and the late Geneva Ellamease Polite Battle. He was born in the Americus Coloured Hospital, eventually known as the "Center". Early in life, he lived in the township of Nunn, Georgia with his parents until they purchased a home and moved to Americus, Georgia.
From 1957 to 1962, Al attended East View Elementary School where he was rewarded for being an excellent student. He then went to A.S. Staley High School from sixth grade to tenth grade. He was lovingly known as "Al" by his family and friends and also as the "Bat" by his close buddies during his high school years.
He was always an enterprising young man and earned money as a paperboy delivering the Atlanta Journal and Constitution for local subscribers. As a young teen, Al worked part time with a dear friend, the late James Simpson, at Simpson's Cafe. As a youngster, he enjoyed playing baseball and was a strong youth pitcher. Al, also, was an avid reader of mystery novels and played trombone in the marching band, concert band, and a small jazz band.
As the backdrop of the Civil Rights movement and the push to end segregation became an ever increasing force in the lives of the Black Community, Al, along with eight other Black students of the class of 1969, used the freedom of choice forms to attend then predominantly white Americus High School, in 1967 to 1969 for his junior and senior years of high school. Though young teenagers, he along with the others, struck a blow against segregation and made a step forward towards school integration. It was tough and at times agonizing, but he graduated in 1969. He was reluctant to speak of the experiences and rarely made note of those turbulent times, but they left an indelible mark on him that helped to shape the rest of his life.
Al entered Morehouse College in the fall of 1969 and began a major in Political Science with the goal of law school. While there, he formed lifelong friendships with his Morehouse brothers. Some of the members of this brotherhood jovially called themselves the "Hop'n Gators". He, also, was a member of the Morehouse marching band for two years. In 1972, he took what can be loosely described as a 50 year gap year. He eventually proudly graduated this past May of 2024 from Morehouse with a degree in Political Science.
During that time away from college, he worked various jobs, mainly in insurance, assessing claims for disaster relief. He married and divorced and established a life mostly in Atlanta, Georgia. Al overcame personal failures and triumphed over major health challenges. He valiantly fought leukemia and defeated it for 15 years. He found solace listening to music, mainly soul and jazz, and especially the musical stylings of his favorite artist, Issac Hayes.
He was a wordsmith and could discuss, explain or debate almost any and every issue.
He is survived by his two sisters: Ellamease O. Jones (Solomon) and Theresa L. Harris (ST); two nieces: Krendalynn S. Jones and Elise L. Jones; two nephews: Solomon A. Jones II and Estee C. Harris Jr. (Lauren); one great niece, Ava L. Harris and one great nephew, Ethan A. Harris. He is also survived by a host of cousins, extended family and friends.
Albert Henry Battle III's life story from March 7, 1951 to December 31, 2024 was an anthology of facing injustices, defeating obstacles, understanding and overcoming personal struggles, and standing tall when hope was but a distant thought.
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To view and print his program, click on the link below Albert Battle Program (6).pdf