Edgar H. Battle Funeral Home

Edgar H. Battle, Sr. was born on October 15, 1909, in Barbour County, Alabama, the son of Lewis and Annie Maude Battle. Edgar Battle and his wife Bertha had three children, Edgar Jr., Rufus, and Ruthie. He was a member of Nichols Chapel A.M.E. Church and was a Trustee and Steward. He was a member of the Alabama Funeral Directors and Morticians Association and the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association. He also served as President of Progressive Funeral Directors of Alabama, Inc. In 1933, Willis C. Battle, Sr., and Edgar Battle, Sr. founded Battle & Battle Funeral Home, and it is still in operation today. For nearly a century, the Battle family has been assisting the citizens of Phenix City and the surrounding communities during their most difficult times.

On July 5, 1950, Willis and Edgar dissolved their partnership and Willis continued operating Battle & Battle Funeral Home. Edgar H. Battle Funeral Home opened nearby shortly afterward. Both Edgar Jr. and Rufus joined the family business and worked alongside their father at the funeral home. Before returning home to work in the family business, Rufus Battle served in the U.S. Army in the early 1960s where he was a member of the 48th Infantry stationed in Germany.

After Edgar Sr. died in 1992 at the age of 82, his sons continued to operate the funeral home. During the 1990s, Rufus Battle served as treasurer of the East Alabama Funeral Directors’ Association and the National Funeral Directors’ Association. The funeral home was later renamed Phenix City Mortuary and remained in business until 2019. After closing, a renovation of the funeral home was started but never completed. In 2022, the property sold and is currently being remodeled to reopen as another funeral home.

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