Joseph L. Battle is the son of the late Rev. George E. Battle and the late Mary Hawkins Battle (Stepmother Audrey Lucille Price Battle).  He is married to former Shirlon Royster. They are the parents of three children, Doretta  Battle, Lanita Battle, and Edward Battle. He and the First Lady live in Roanoke Rapids, NC.

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Pastor Battle has been an ordained Gospel Minister since August 1994.  He has served as pastor of the Oak Grove Baptist Church of Garysburg, NC (1995-2003), assistant pastor of Quankey Missionary Baptist Church from 1994-1996 and was elected Pastor in March of 1996.

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Pastor Battle’s formal education was received from McIver High School, Littleton, NC;  Halifax Community College, Weldon, NC;  Wake Technical Community College, and Shaw Divinity School of Raleigh, NC​.

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Pastor Battle is affiliated with many community and professional organizations.  Some of which are: Neuse River Missionary Baptist Association where he served as Moderator from 2008-2018; Tar River Ministers, Deacons and Layman’s Union; Adviser for the Halifax County Missionary Union; member of the Hampton Ministers’ Conference; Shaw University Ministers’ Conference; the NAACP; and General Board of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, Inc. He is a former member of the Board of Directors/Advisers for the Northampton County Sunday School Convention.

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He previously served as a member of the Board of Director for J. P. Stevens Credit Union and chairman of the Industrial Credit Union Board of Directors and is currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Self-Help Credit Union.

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Pastor Battle also participates with “Men On a Mission” mission group assisting others in need.  A group of Men who give a week of their time annually to assist in building projects for those churches and associations needing their services.