Judith Theresa Battle

Judith T. Battle was the second child of Julius and Louise Battle, born on March 12, 1947, in Manhattan, New York at Harlem Hospital. During her childhood, she spent time dreaming about being a nurse and caring for people. Her personality started as shy and introverted because she believed she wasn’t pretty. It was her sister-in-law, Kathleen, who told her she was beautiful. From then she blossomed and grew in confidence. She enjoyed hanging out with her best friend, Janet, buying pickles and dividing it equally into slices. She graduated from Julia Richmond High School in New York, NY.

At the age of 19, she married her first love Gary Vaughn Jackson saying he reminded her of Smokey Robinson. Together they were blessed with two children, Stephanie (Bokiya) and Kirk (Mayim) before they divorced. She enjoyed having a good time and celebrating events with her family and friends. She wanted the best for her children and believed in exposing them to different things to broaden their horizons, often taking them to Broadway plays and with her on vacation trips. She later included her beloved grandchildren in this tradition, taking them annually to Aruba. She spent a lot of time with her best friend Janet and cousin Sandra (Shaloh) during those years.

Judith Battle was an expert nurse with over 50 years of care for young and old in hospitals and homes, licensed in New York, Maryland, and Virginia. She was highly skilled in documentation and record maintenance to ensure patient safety and confidentiality. She was an LPN at the age of 19, later becoming an RN, and earned her Associate of Nursing degree at the age of 33 from Bronx Community College in Bronx, New York. She nursed at Harlem Hospital, Joint Disease North General, Westchester Square Hospital, Einstein Hospital, the prestigious Lenox Hill Hospital (once caring for Lena Horne), and Good Samaritan Hospital. She was also a staff nurse through Initial Health and Inova Cameron Glen Nursing Home. She was a fearless defender of the “under-appreciated” nursing profession, becoming an 1199 Union Representative to champion the rights of nurses.

She lived a life of service, always putting others first. When her mother Louise became ill she immediately resigned to care for her. She did so at a great personal cost of long-term security, as she left just two months shy of being eligible for a substantial pension. (Ex 20:12) (Mk 8:36). She volunteered at the “The Closet” in Herndon, VA for underserved communities. In 2017, for her service, she was honored with a community service volunteer award. For her local homeless shelter, she revamped the kitchen operation and infused Levitical dietary laws which elevated the menu and created a feeding frenzy only rivaled by the chum poured in shark-infested waters.

After her son answered the call of the Most High to ministry, she accepted that the Christ Jesus she had grown up loving, was really named Yehshua Ha Moshiak and that his life’s mission was not to “diminish” from the word, but to proclaim, “Think not that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets, (but rather) to fulfill”, to show the Way for the nation of Israel to keep Torah. From that point on, she dedicated her life to keeping his commandments. In particular, keeping his holy feast days, eating a clean diet, praying, and serving her Israel community with health and nursing care, using the Hebrew version of her name, Yehudith; she was baptized on Shabuot. In 2000, she visited her homeland of Israel spending most of her days dreading departure.

As an elder in her congregation, several younger men and women called her “Amma”. Just like her namesake in the book of Yehudith, she was a fearless fighter and sagacious sister; she was also a mighty mother and grandmother, fondly known as “Gadolamma”. For many years, Yehudith lived with her daughter Bokiya in Virginia, where they spent time traveling and thoroughly enjoying what the Most High provided for them, and in Maryland with her son Mayim helping him and his wife Marcy Rachamim to care for their growing family. She was overjoyed at the birth of her first grandchild, Mayein. Her favorite pastimes were loving her grandchildren, cooking, keeping Shabbat, and fellowship.

As her long-term illness worsened, she was no longer able to provide care for herself. Her son brought her into his home for around-the-clock care by his family and she experienced a short period of revival. Her only granddaughter, Sarach provided excellent care revealing that her gift of nursing had indeed been inherited by her only granddaughter-Halleluyah! Her indomitable will to live long enough to attend her sister’s funeral and see her daughter Bokiya’s face, was accomplished on Friday, July 28, 2023.

At about noon on the Sabbath Day, July 29, 2023, after being showered with beautiful testimonies of love by Mayim’s household, Yehudith was “...now ready to be offered", likely saying in her spirit the words of Sa'ul, "and the time of my departure is at hand. I fought a good fight, I finished my course, I kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which YHWH Elohim, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (II Tim 4:6-8).

She leaves to mourn: son Mayim, daughter-in-law Rachamim, her seven beloved grandchildren: Mayein, Bezaleel, Yabez, Boaz, Yachin, Sarach, and Yahphunah; daughter Bokiya and husband Cyrus; brother Carlton and she was preceded in death by her youngest sibling, sister Jacqueline; sister-in-law Kathleen; two beloved nephews, Ananias (wife Adaya) and Corey; great nephews and nieces: Micaiah, Nahshon, Anani, Zuriel; a host of cousins like Shaloh and Sherah, extended family like Shamara; and friends, like Lael, Elon, and Qishon who were like sons. Her faith communities were Beth Emeth wa Chased, House of Israel, and Kingdom of Priests.

Yehudith was anointed by Moreh Mayim for burial at her death, who she lovingly called, “son of mine”. Judith’s written request was to be buried in an easily degradable manner in the place secured by her father Julius Battle before his death. She wrote these lasting words for our comfort, “I am certain that I will be raised up in that day

as I have expired in YHWH,

ba hashem Yehshua Ha Moshiak, HalleluYah!”

Graveside funeral services, Tuesday, August 1, 2023, :2:00 pm at Ferncliff Cemetery, Gate 3, 280 Secor Rd, Hartsdale, NY 10530, 914-693-4700. Be advised that chairs will not be provided, portable chairs and blankets are welcomed. Female guests should be prepared with a head covering (scarf, hat, etc). Please refrain from wearing religious jewelry and apparel.

Arrangements entrusted to Thibadeau Mortuary Service, p.a., 124 E Diamond Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, 301-495-4950, www.InterFaithFunerals.com.