Captain Jean-Pierre “JP” Battiste
Sunrise: September 4, 1975 Sunrise: December 27, 2018

Jean-Pierre Battiste, was born on September 4, 1975 in Chicago, Illinois at Michael Reese Hospital at 4:46pm. The second of three children of Auggeretto McArthur and Kathryn Louise (Brown) Battiste. His entry was eagerly welcomed by his parents. He has two siblings: an older brother, Andre A. Battiste, Sr. and a younger brother, Francois Battiste.

Jean-Pierre or “JP” as he chose to be nicknamed, attended Berger-Vandenburg Elementary in Dolton where he studied the Saxophone, was active in little league baseball and the Cub and Boy Scouts. At Dirksen Junior High School in Calumet City, he was involved in several extracurricular activities and clubs. He entered Thornridge High School in Dolton in 1989 and distinguished himself on the school tennis team where he would earn a varsity letter and in the dramatic arts on stage in plays such as “Waiting for Godot”, “The Foreigner” and “A Raisin in the Sun”. A highly regarded student and classmate, JP was on the senior Homecoming Court. Always an avid sports fan, he would have a lifelong attachment to local sports teams such as the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears and the Chicago Blackhawks.

JP proudly attended Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama as a four-year Air Force ROTC scholarship recipient. A true kinship would be formed with his Tuskegee friends, affectionately referred to as “The Crew”, and his Tuskegee family. There, he also pledged and became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Gamma Phi Chapter in Fall 1996. He was active in the Arnold Air Society (Air Force equivalent of the Pershing Rifles), Lambda Iota Tau Literature Honor Society, served as the local National Pan-Hellenic Council President (1997-98) and was raised into Silver Trowel Lodge #10, Prince Hall Affiliated Masons. He obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in History and a Bachelors of Arts in English in 1999 and was subsequently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

Within the Air Force, Captain Battiste had the following assignments: Section Commander, 2nd Civil Engineering Squadron, 2nd Support Group, Barksdale Air Force Base, Shreveport, Louisiana; Squadron Section Commander, 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 35th Maintenance Group, Misawa Air Base, Japan; and his last active duty assignment was at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Fairborn, Ohio where he served as a Manpower and Management Analyst/Personnel Officer. In six years, he earned the following awards: Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Ribbon (Long Tour), Air Force Training Ribbon and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

After serving our nation, JP worked for the Chicago Board of Education from 2005-2007 as an Administrative Liaison for medical support of school children obtaining services such as reading glasses and other essentials. Always seeking to better himself, JP returned to school and obtained a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) with an emphasis in International Development from Howard University, Washington D.C. in 2009. From there, JP worked as a Senior Security Administrator Defense Contractor for ManTech, where he managed vulnerability, physical security, intelligence analysis and security clearances. This position opened the door for further governmental work within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Within the EPA, JP served as a GS11 Supervisor, overseeing the physical security and security clearances of all agency employees.

A trip to a Tuskegee University homecoming would include an event in Atlanta, where JP met the love of his life, Autumn Jones-Battiste. The two were married in 2013 and a family union sand ceremony was held in 2014 uniting Jean-Pierre, Autumn and his two lovely, intelligent and wonderful daughters, Courtney Lashay Nixon-Battiste, age 15 and Leila Amelia Jacqueline Battiste, age 14.

Where there is love there is life. JP’s passion for gardening was sparked by his maternal grandparents, Bennie D. Brown, Sr. and Lila Amelia (Pryor) Brown (both deceased). It is said that the love of gardening is a seed that, once sown, never dies. Surrounded by his loved ones, JP departed this life peacefully on the afternoon of December 27th, 2018. He lives on in our hearts as he leaves behind a legacy of a love for education and nature, as well as a lifelong dedication to serving something greater than yourself.

In addition to his maternal grandparents, JP was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Luther J. Battiste, Sr. and Geraldine Gourdine Battiste. He is survived and greatly missed by his loving wife, daughters, parents, siblings, brotherhoods, and a host of extended family, friends, and all that encountered his loving smile and infectious charm. We will all continue to grow together in honor of his memory and his legacy. Tree dedications can be made in his honor at the George Washington Masonic Lodge. A scholarship endowment in his memory will also be established at Tuskegee University.

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