Dessislava Yankova

dyankova@mtcngroup.com

The Hendersonville father accused in his daughter’s death was the spiritual leader of his family and did all he could to give them the best life possible, his pastor said.

Timothy Batts, 29, grew up in the projects surrounded by drugs and violence, but had turned his life around, said Adam French, campus pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church. Charged Tuesday in the shooting death of his 11-year-old daughter Timea, Batts worked three jobs and lived life by God’s word, said French, the father’s mentor.

Grandmother defends son, says 'Timea was his heart'

“Tim is broken,” said the pastor, who visited his friend at the Sumner County Jail Tuesday. “Tim loves his children so much. He’s a family man. ... Imagine, you’re a father, who’s done everything in your power to raise your children right, obey the law, do everything for your family and live by the word of God, and then this happens. ... This is a tragic, freak accident and no one is suffering more than Tim.”

On Monday, French said, Batts took off work to send his children off to school and welcome them home on their first day back, especially Timea who began sixth-grade at Knox Doss Middle.

Reacting to the past

Timea came home earlier than her father anticipated. Batts was asleep at the back of the house behind a closed door when the noise of someone entering the home startled him.

“He said he kept asking who was there. No one answered and it got real quiet,” French said. “ She was hiding. Tim thought it was an intruder. He was afraid and reacted based on his past.”

The two men met three years ago while visiting their children at Gene Brown Elementary School in Hendersonville. The two built a friendship and Batts shared some of his life stories.

In 2011, Batts was getting food when Cheyenne Turner shot him multiple times. As a result, Batts suffers from symptoms similar to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with nightmares and anxiety.

“Tim almost died,” French said. “After that accident, Tim didn’t want his children to grow up in that atmosphere so he moved his family to Hendersonville.”

Father, daughter had entrepreneurial spirits

Batts was working as a janitor and operated a lawn care business. He had also obtained his barber license and opened a barber shop.

“Everything we needed, he provided for us no matter how hard he had to work. He always emphasized to his children to do the right thing and he had high expectations," said Jasmine Horton, Batts’ fiancée. "He is an excellent father.”

Timea inherited her father's entrepreneurial spirit. She launched her own business this summer, designing and selling sandals to family and friends.

Batts had hoped Timea would be the first in his family to go to college.

As Batts and Horton tucked the children in bed Sunday night, they asked their children if they were nervous about the first day of school.

Timea wasn’t nervous, Horton said, but wanted her teachers to like her. She also wanted to be a good friend others and aspired to be good cheerleader.

"She loved life and wanted to be happy and for others to be happy," Horton said. I miss her smile and her magnetic personality.”

Monday’s incident is a wake up call for her family and hopefully for others, said Horton, who visited her fiancée Wednesday.

“Love and hold on to your family and children, and don’t take one second for granted because in a blink of an eye, everything can change... Every breath hurts. This is a nightmare. We’re searching for answers and clinging to our faith in God. We ask for everyone to pray for our family.”

French asked that people don’t judge Batts.

“Our past doesn’t define us. God takes our mess and turns it into a message. Tim turned his life around, decided to live right and a tragedy struck," French said. "As a community, it’s our responsibility to come other, support and love him and his family.”

Timea’s funeral arrangements are tentatively set for Saturday, Aug. 20, but details are still being finalized.

Reach Dessislava Yankova at dyankova@mtcngroup.com. Follow her on Twitter @desspor.