Mrs. Rachel Gaither Peoples Batiste, age 70, of 1223 Raleigh Rd., Lexington, NC passed on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at High Point Regional Medical Center, High Point, NC.

She was born August 3, 1939 in Rowan County to th late Dell and Ada Bennett Gaither.

A Graduate of J. C. Price High School, she was a member of the class of 1956-1957. Mrs. Batiste also attended Georgetown University, Washington, DC, Georgetown HIgh School Nursing Program, NY, NY and retired as a RN from Presbyterian Hospital, NY, NY. She also worked for Cecil Hotel, NY, NY. She was a member of Moore's Chapel AME Zion Church, Salisbury, NC.

Those who shall cherish her memory is a son, Juan Jose Peoples, Salisbury; grandduaghter, Tosha Shante hargrave, Lexington, NC; great grandson, Tyshaun Zy`quis Black and Kiara Avian Black and Niya Lanae Hargave all of Lexington, NC; brothers, James Gaither, Winston-Salem, NC, Benjamin "Tootie" Map Gaither, Salisbury, NC, David Jones, Snow Hill, NC, Abdul Larry Gaither and Johnny Ray Gaither both of Raleigh, NC; sister, Wilma Jacqueline Gaither Carter, Chicago, IL; special sisters-in-law, Delores Peoples, Lexington, N; special nieces, Ernestine Hairston and Becky Peoples both of Lexington, NC, other nieces, nephews, cousins other relatives and friends.

Memorial service will be Wednesday, 2:30 pm at Moore's Chapel AME Zion Church, Salisbury with the Pastor, Rev. Carolyn Bratton, officiating.