Grace Batts Raper

Grace Batts Raper March 2, 1941 – June 4, 2021 Grace Batts Raper, 80 of Wilson born March 2, 1941, passed away Friday, June 4, 2021 at her home. Grace worked at Carolina Telephone, Atlantic Christian College, now Barton and retired from BB&T. She loved reading books for hours and crossword puzzles. Grace was the best cook. She made the best homemade biscuits, cakes, pecan pies, and fried chicken. She loved playing sports also. She graduated from Elm City High School where she played basketball. Grace enjoyed playing volleyball and softball in the church leagues. She sewed and made her own clothes, quilts and knitted afghans. Grace took a painting class at Wilson Community and painted some beautiful paintings. In 1966 she married the love of her life, James Ray Raper and they just celebrated fifty-five years together. Grace was a very loving wife, mother, grammy, and sister. She thought the world of her daughter, Wendi and her grandsons, Bryce and Brewer. They were her pride and joy. Grace will be dearly missed by all. Grace is survived by her husband, James Ray Raper; daughter, Wendi Hawley and husband, Jamie of Wilson; grandsons, Bryce and Brewer Hawley of Wilson; sisters, Doris Pridgen, Pat Mullen, Ernestine Mercer and husband, Billy of Elm City, Katie Williams of Wilson, Shirley Gardner and husband, Barry of Rocky Mount, Jo Bradshaw and husband, Ronnie of Savannah, Georgia, and Sue Hancock of Nags Head; brother, James Batts and wife, Barbara of Knightdale, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bertha and Ernest Batts, and her brothers, Vernon Batts, Bob Batts, Jack Batts, and Tom Batts. The family would like to express their gratitude to her caregivers and Community Hospice for their kindness, loving care, and compassion to Grace. Her funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Joyner’s Funeral Home, Wilson. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park, Wilson. Pastor Michael Crocker and Rev. Doug Radford will officiate. The family will receive friends from 12:30 – 1:45 p.m. prior to the service at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson and other times at the residence. In lieu flowers, please consider memorial in Grace’s memory to Connect Church (formerly First Free Will Baptist), 4865 Nash Street N, Wilson, North Carolina 27896. Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.