Sally Batten Temple

Sally Temple, age 84, of Jacksonville, Florida, left Earth for her Heavenly Home on Saturday, March 16, 2024, ending her struggle with the painful frustrations of Parkinson’s Disease.

Sally Lou Garvin, born September 29, 1939, the fifth child and only daughter of Merl Henry Garvin and Rozelma Ida (Barker) Garvin of Sarver, PA in Butler County. Each of her five brothers preceded her in death. Garvin brothers: Burdette, Marland, Gene, Teddy, and Don.

After graduating from Winfield High School and then while working in Washington, DC, Sally met Floyd Freeman Batten of the USMC. They married on April 12, 1959. She gave birth to a daughter, Valerie, and fifteen months later, a son, Floyd Freeman Batten, II. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Jacksonville where Sally lived the remainder of her life.

Sally devoted her life to being a godly wife, mother, and homemaker, as well as faithfully serving as a member of her beloved First Baptist Church of Jacksonville for about 60 years. Known as Miss Sally, she loved and cared for the babies of FBC as well as those in her own home daycare. For a few years, Miss Sally cared for babies at KinderCare. She also cared for babies and young children in their own homes as a nanny. Children (and mothers) all over Jacksonville still remember the TLC and child-training wisdom of Miss Sally!

Other ministries included teaching 8th Grade Girls’ Sunday School, FBC Bus Ministry, Newlyweds SS, and faithfully, joyfully visiting the elder saints in nursing homes.

Sally never met a stranger! She could (and did) talk to anyone. She loved everyone with the love of Jesus, and everyone loved her, especially her grandchildren. She traveled far and frequently to visit her kids and grandkids for many years until health issues prevented that most enjoyable pastime. Grandma always came for the special times, hard times, needed times, ANYTIME! Sally was frequently seen with a camera in her hands, from cheap, old 110 folding models to newer digital cameras as they became available. One grown grandkid wrote, “She is single-handedly responsible for about 90% of the photo documentation of my childhood and that of my siblings and cousins.” Also, Grandma’s house was magical!

November 26, 2010, Sally remarried. After Bob Temple’s wife, Arlene, and Sally’s husband, “Freeman” passed away, Bob and Sally married and shared 10 blessed years before Bob’s Homegoing, exactly three years (to the day) before God called her home. Bob signed everything with “John 3:16” following his signature, and Sally continued for him when Parkinson’s took away his ability. That simple Gospel Message was genuinely their LIFE.

God blessed BOTH with this special “called home” date. Bob: 3-16-21. Sally: 3-16-24.

Sally is survived by her daughter, Valerie (Batten) Arena and son-in-law, Mike Arena, and by her son, Floyd Batten and daughter-in-law, Sheri Batten.

Sally leaves six grandchildren: Tiffany Jones (husband, Matt Jones), Daniel Batten (wife, Morgan Batten), Jonathan Arena, Janni Arena (husband, Zack Goings), Jarrett Arena (wife, Kelly Arena), Jacquelyn Arena. Twin granddaughters, Faith and Hope Arena, stillborn on Mother’s Day, 1987, are being shown off presently by their proud Grandma.

Sally leaves three great grandchildren: Graham and Ensley Batten, and Emma Jones.

April 29, 2024, 10:00 AM – Visitation and Sharing of Memories

Chapel of Corey-Kerlin Funeral Home, 940 Cesery Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32211

11:00 AM – Memorial Celebration Service - Paul Davis, Officiating

Private Family Graveside Service following

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to support the work of the Alaska Gospel Radio Ministry so dear to Sally’s heart, where Mike and Valerie Arena serve as missionaries reaching remote villages of Alaska with the Light of the Gospel of Christ.

Checks should be made out and mailed to:

Camp Creek Baptist Church, ℅ Treasurer, 324 Long Street, Demorest, GA 30535

Please Note “ALASKA, In Honor of Sally Temple”