About Us

Some of the Life & times of

Mrs. A. Jean Battie

Mrs. A Jean Battie taught in the Sarasota County School System for thirty (30) years before retiring in 2006, from Alta Vista Elementary School, her last assignment.

However, those who knew her best, (including, of course, Mr. Battie) would say she never got the memo on retirement, because if she wasn’t at a school as a substitute teacher, she would be there as a volunteer. It was her love for the children and her passion for teaching that constantly drove her to the classroom. 

Over the years, she built such a reputation as a caring, compassionate, and effective teacher that parents were requesting that their children be placed in her classrooms as early as kindergarten, something rarely heard of in early childhood education. In her obituary, Mr. Battie referred to her as not just a teacher, but as a servant to her students. 

She constantly spent her own money on supplies to enhance their learning abilities. If a child needed clothes, lunch money, a pat on the back or sometimes a good tongue-wagging, she provided whatever was necessary. 

When the first Sunday school ministry was initiated at the former Abundant Life Christian Center, Mrs. Battie was one of the first to raise her hand as a volunteer to teach. Following a brief hiatus that followed the merger of Abundant Life in Bethesda Outreach Ministries under the banner of Light of the World International Church and Sunday school was resurrected, she was again one of the first to raise her hand to volunteer. And the same love and compassion for the children that became her hallmark in Sarasota’s public schools, she brought to the Sunday school.

With a burning love for the history and culture of African-Americans, Mrs. Battie single-handedly raised awareness of Black History Month at whatever school she happened to be assigned at the time. She was also the leading force in raising Black History awareness in establishing Black History programs in Light of the World’s Sunday school ministry.

The Fund serves as an extension of the legacy that Mrs. Battie established as a servant to the children of Sarasota County’s schools. The  Christian life that she lived and exemplified assures that she would insist and proclaim “To God be the Glory.”

Education Fund Committee

Chair

Henry “Hank” Battie, committee chairman is a Sarasota native and graduate of Booker High School and attended Dillard University in New Orleans, LA majoring in English Literature and Theater. As a youth advocate for the better part of his life, he began that journey as a little league baseball coach in the early 1980's. Coaching baseball was something he said he always wanted to do and especially at the little league level. It didn't take long for him to realize, however, that the boys he was coaching needed so much more than just baseball. So doing something that he said he wanted to do, evolved into something that he said he felt he had to do. Subsequently, he has been working with kids in some capacity ever since.​

Committee Member

Beverly Andrews married to Lemuel Andrews for 38 years We have three beautiful children. I am recently retired after 25+years in the Insurance Industry. I am currently serving the Middle School youth of Light Of The World International Church as a Sunday school teacher and am also serving as a member of the Scholarship committee.

Vice Chair

Lemuel Raymond Andrews III is currently the College & Career Advisor at Booker High School and has been an educator with the school district of Sarasota County school district for 23 years. At Booker High School, he also serves as the Take Stock in Children College Success Coach, the College For Every Student (CFES) Site Coordinator, and State College of Florida's College Reach Out Program (CROP) Site Coordinator. He is a former employee of the Florida Power and Light Company (16 years), and the city of Sarasota and  Sarasota County Parks & Recreation Department  (13 years).  He presently serves as a board member with Imagine Schools at Palmer Ranch; the Life Center Homeless Ministry; LOTW Outreach Ministry, and the Booker High School Athletic Advisory Board. He is married to Beverly Jean (Clark), and the father of Dr. Chereece Nicole Andrews (Texas), Lemuel Raymond Andrews IV (Gainesville), Darren Amonte Andrews (Tallahassee).

Treasurer

Katherine Ansley is a retired educator of 35 years in the Sarasota County School System where she imparted the love of learning to students in grades second through sixth. She continues to impact the lives of students through education by volunteering her time at Booker Middle School.

Committee Member

Tameka Burch Moore is passionate about human services and youth development. She is the Director of Community Engagement with MCFCU, helping people to increase their financial capacity.  Tameka has a 17-year background in local government, community outreach, public speaking, leadership, project management, event planning/marketing. With a keen eye for design and coordination, she is also the owner/designer of Teelee Design- a handcrafted, creative, beaded jewelry business.  Tameka volunteers with several community-based organizations and serves as a member of LOTW International Church and Scholarship Committee.  Tameka is a fabulous mother of 3 beautiful daughters, one handsome son, and one precious granddaughter.  She enjoys family, adventure, art, and humbly encouraging others to strive for and accomplish their dreams.

PR Director

Phyllis Clay is a retired HR professional with extensive experience in Full Life Cycle Recruitment and HR Generalist roles.  Phyllis had a number of years of on campus recruitment working with an emphasis on minority staffing in IT.

Committee Member

Dali Lumpkin is an educator who served in the Sarasota County Public Schools for nearly fifteen years, primarily at Booker High School.   She taught high school English and later transitioned into school counseling.   She currently holds the position of School Counselor with Florida Virtual School's FLEX program.  Dali holds a Bachelor in Science in Secondary English Education and a Master in Arts in School Counseling, both from the University of South Florida.  Her most important roles, however, are those of wife and mother.  She is married to Pastor Kelvin L. Lumpkin, Senior Pastor of Light of the World International Church and they are the proud parents of two beautiful and bright girls, Sofia and Sunny. 

Church Youth Minister

I have been employed at the City of Sarasota over 29 years. I have worked with youth over 39 years and am the Director of Light of The World Youth Department over 13 years strong and still loving it! 

Secretary

Joyce Jeffries White, M.H.A./M.B.A. is a member of Light of the World International Church.  She is a retired Hospital Administrator, specializing in Quality Management and spent over twenty-five years in church management.    

Committee Member

Shelli Freeland Eddie has practiced law in the State of Florida for 17 years.  A former Assistant State Attorney, she now owns and manages her own law practice, The Freeland Eddie Law Group, P.A., where she practices primarily in the areas of family law, criminal law, and estate planning.  She holds both a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence Degree in Law from the University of Kentucky.  She is a member of The Florida Bar, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the National Bar Association, and the Sarasota County Bar Association. She is also a licensed real estate title-closing agent. In 2015 Attorney Freeland Eddie was elected as a City Commissioner to the Sarasota City Commission.

Committee Member

Darnell has skills in Risk Management; Property Casualty Insurance; Worker’s Casualty Insurance; Strategic Marketing & Selling; Strategic Planning/Analysis;  Product Development; Analytical & Quantitative Skills; Total Quality Management. He received his Masters of Business Administrations, Bachelors of Electrical Engineering from the University of Detroit.