Evangelist Shandolen Annette Fields-Batson, 44

DOVER - Evangelist Shandolen Annette Fields-Batson of Dover died Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. She was 44.

She was born May 22, 1963, in Fort Ord, Calif., daughter of Henry Lee Fields and Dorothy Mae.

Shandolen grew up in Dover and graduated from Dover High School in 1981 and later attended Delaware State College.

She had 18 years of service with the state of Delaware with the most recent position being Human Resources Specialist II with the Family Court.

In August 1984, she married and two beautiful children were produced from that union.

Shandolen accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior in September 1984 during revival at the Center of Faith Church in Dover.

During her Christian growth and development, she attended New Hope United Holiness Church under the tutelage of the late Rev. George M. Cuthbertson, Bishop Ralph Dennis and Elder Newton Pullian.

She served in many capacities including vice president of the ministerial board, president of the young people holy association, president of the gospel choir, Sunday school teacher, vacation bible school coordinator and usher board.

Shandolen enjoyed making people laugh and encouraging them through song and the precious word of God.

She believed God"s people need more laughter in their lives.

She is preceded in death by a brother, Kerry Fields; maternal grandparents, John and Mittie Bell Head; paternal grandparents, Henry and Ola Mae Fields and Alfred and Deaner Tunnell.

Shandolen leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, Joseph R. Batson of Dover; two sons, Isaiah Stevenson and Zachary Stevenson Greene; granddaughter, Havyn Renee Greene; her parents, Alfred and Dorothy Tunnell of Dover and Henry Lee and Lorene Fields of Waco, Texas; two brothers, Jammie Lee Fields and his wife, Linnette of Dallas, and Alfred Stevenson Tunnell III and his wife, Sonja of Dover; a sister, Turkessa Y. Tunnell of Dover; four more sisters and one brother Sonya, Kim, Carla, Pamela and Henry Lee Fields, all of Waco; four special godsons, Charles "CC" Trott, Richard Thompson, Hugh Tolson, Gabriel Kanicki, all of Dover; one goddaughter, Shandolen Renee Rombawa; two very special sister friends, LeDante Bordley of Dover and Robin Tatum of Wilmington; mother-in-law, Caralie Batson; two grandsons, Dakiah Batson and DaMear Batson; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday in Calvary Baptist Church on Del. 8, where friends may view one hour prior.

Burial will be in Sharon Hill Cemetery.

Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Home.