Jim Bateman

James (“Jim”) Myron Bateman, 82, of Nashville and Sewanee, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2023 in Nashville with his wife by his side after a long and courageous battle with mesothelioma. He was born in Nashville on September 24, 1940, to Mary Motes Metcalfe Bateman and William Lynn Bateman. The youngest of their three children together, Jim received a Bachelor of Arts (concentrating in mathematics and music) from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, a Masters in Computer Science from Vanderbilt University, and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Vanderbilt. He taught mathematics and computer science for many years, including as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Michigan State University, a Professor of Computer Science at Austin Peay State University, and, after his retirement, a Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of the South in Sewanee. He also did biomedical engineering research at Vanderbilt. He was happily married to Helen Vrailas Bateman of Nashville and Sewanee for 44 years and had one son with her, Christopher James Bateman of New York, New York. In addition to mathematics, his passions included playing piano (he also played trumpet and double bass, and performed in classical and bluegrass groups), traveling to Greece and spending time with his friends and family there, caring for his beloved dogs, and lifelong learning. He also served as a Cub Scout leader and a computer-science student-competitions faculty leader. He is survived by his sister, Doris Wallace of Montgomery, Alabama; his wife, Helen; his son, Christopher (wife Lindsay Fuller Talbot); his granddaughters, Isabelle Spring Bateman and Emilia Talbot Bateman; and many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews, extended family members, and friends. His previously departed family members include his father, Lynn; his mother, Motes; his brother, William Lynn Bateman Jr., and his half-sister, Lyndall Bateman Goff. He was a wonderful, gentle man with a great sense of humor, and the kindest and most loving husband and father one could ask for. Information about a celebration-of-life service will be provided in the future. Should friends desire, in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, and the Lung Cancer Foundation of America.