The following was provided by Rev. Batson's husband.
The Rev. Sara Chapman Batson of Durham, NC died on September 4, 2023 at Calyx Senior Living in Durham, NC.
Sara was born in Clarksville, TN on November 1, 1941 to William and Evelyn Batson. She graduated from Eastern High School in Louisville, KY in 1959, the Kentucky Baptist Hospital School of Nursing, and received a BS RN with honors from the University of Evansville. After her time as an RN, she was a health care consultant with both Humana and the Pace Group. Sara also served as Clinical Operations Director for Vincor, a Louisville, KY hospital chain. She graduated with a Masters in Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, received an Anglican Studies Diploma from The General Theological Seminary, and received an Advanced Certification in Biomedical Ethics from Columbia University.
Sara was ordained a priest in The Episcopal Church in 1998 and then served in these churches and positions: Senior Associate Priest, Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr, PA 1998; Rector, Christ Church Media, PA 1998-2007; Dean of the Delaware Deanery, 2003-2006; Vice Chair of the Diocese of Pennsylvania Commission on Salaries and Pensions, 2004-2007; Interim Rector, Trinity Church, Fuquay-Varina, NC 2008-2009; and Interim Rector, Church of the Nativity, Raleigh, NC 2009-2011.
She enjoyed spending time with family, travel, musicals, cross country skiing, hiking in national parks, and was an avid NFL football fan.
Sara is survived by her husband of 17 years, James Brunnquell of Durham, NC; daughter, Malinda Pearson of Charleston, SC; sister, Peggy Batson (brother-in-law Ben Martin) of Spring, TX; step children, Christian Brunnquell of Oxford, PA, and Julie Kubovsak (husband David) of West Chester, PA and four grandchildren; Aidan, Kira, Allister, and Addison.
A memorial service will be held at the Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr on October 21, 2023 at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Episcopal Community Services at ecsphilly.org.
