Kenny, who grew up in a small beach community along with his three brothers learned the value of hard work at an early age. Over the years, without fail, he opened the Batts Grill for breakfast for people who were looking to spend a week or two away from home in a sunny spot along the ocean. Kenny himself rarely, if ever, gave himself the luxury of getting out of town for some rest, although he could easily have afforded it.
Kenny graduated from Topsail High School where his peers still remember his days as a popular athlete.
His ancestors were an integral part of settling the now popular vacation spot of Surf City. They even helped to give the town it's name, and several roads were named for his past family members including the main road leading over the Swing Bridge entering the beach.
He served several years on the Surf City Town Council, forging lifelong friendships as well as lifelong enemies along the way. During those meetings, "Kenny was one who sat back and listened to everyone else talk talk talk and then would come out with just a few words that went right to the heart of the matter." according to one local resident.
His restaurant, Batts Grill, located in the heart of town, was a must for tourist who vacationed there as well as the locals who enjoyed the comfortable feel of walking in and being greeted by Kenny and his staff each morning. Everyone knew everyone, and many friendships were formed by years of customers having coffee together. He served generations of families as each year they would come back insisting on seeing Kenny and showing him how much their children had grown. Eventually those children grew up and brought their own children.
It wasn't always a restaurant. When Kenny was growing up it was orginally a bait and tackle shop run by his father. Kenny took an interest in the building and found himself making Hotdogs for customers, and eventually he turned the former bait & tackle into the cafe it is today. Although the building was old, in great need of repair and its ambiance was an acquired taste, there was no denying the fact that you got the best seafood meal, or best breakfast you could get for a fair price. The local population on the Island was sparse in the winter and there just weren't enough locals to support the cafe during those cold months. So to support his young family during those lean times, Kenny would harvest Oysters in the cold waters of the sound. This was a freezing cold job, that he once remarked he hated, but he knew that's what he had to do to support his family. But come spring, just before Easter, he once again welcomed the tourist for a new season.
Kenny was a lot of things to a lot of people. He was witty, smart, gruff, giving, kind, mean, determined, short tempered, forgiving, unpretentious, no nonsense, fun and biting all at the same time. He held nothing back, spoke his mind and rarely missed his mark. Whether you liked or tolerated him, you had to be honest with yourself and admit that Kenny was a good friend to have. Everyone who called him friend felt they had a special bond with him, and believe me when I tell you that everybody knew him.
Kenneth died at age 60 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center following a bicycle/vehicle accident four days earlier. His loss will be wide spread and long lasting in his community.
He leaves his wife, a son, a stepdaughter, three brothers, and a legion of tourist and locals who will miss seeing him at his famous 'Batts Grill'.
His family will receive visitors from 5-7pm, Sunday, June 17, 2012 at Andrews Mortuary Hampstead Chapel.
A funeral service will be held at 2pm, Monday, June 18, 2012, at Surf City Baptist Church with Pastor Bobby Owings officiating. Burial will follow at Sea Lawn Memorial Park. (an original biography written by CM)
Kenny graduated from Topsail High School where his peers still remember his days as a popular athlete.
His ancestors were an integral part of settling the now popular vacation spot of Surf City. They even helped to give the town it's name, and several roads were named for his past family members including the main road leading over the Swing Bridge entering the beach.
He served several years on the Surf City Town Council, forging lifelong friendships as well as lifelong enemies along the way. During those meetings, "Kenny was one who sat back and listened to everyone else talk talk talk and then would come out with just a few words that went right to the heart of the matter." according to one local resident.
His restaurant, Batts Grill, located in the heart of town, was a must for tourist who vacationed there as well as the locals who enjoyed the comfortable feel of walking in and being greeted by Kenny and his staff each morning. Everyone knew everyone, and many friendships were formed by years of customers having coffee together. He served generations of families as each year they would come back insisting on seeing Kenny and showing him how much their children had grown. Eventually those children grew up and brought their own children.
It wasn't always a restaurant. When Kenny was growing up it was orginally a bait and tackle shop run by his father. Kenny took an interest in the building and found himself making Hotdogs for customers, and eventually he turned the former bait & tackle into the cafe it is today. Although the building was old, in great need of repair and its ambiance was an acquired taste, there was no denying the fact that you got the best seafood meal, or best breakfast you could get for a fair price. The local population on the Island was sparse in the winter and there just weren't enough locals to support the cafe during those cold months. So to support his young family during those lean times, Kenny would harvest Oysters in the cold waters of the sound. This was a freezing cold job, that he once remarked he hated, but he knew that's what he had to do to support his family. But come spring, just before Easter, he once again welcomed the tourist for a new season.
Kenny was a lot of things to a lot of people. He was witty, smart, gruff, giving, kind, mean, determined, short tempered, forgiving, unpretentious, no nonsense, fun and biting all at the same time. He held nothing back, spoke his mind and rarely missed his mark. Whether you liked or tolerated him, you had to be honest with yourself and admit that Kenny was a good friend to have. Everyone who called him friend felt they had a special bond with him, and believe me when I tell you that everybody knew him.
Kenneth died at age 60 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center following a bicycle/vehicle accident four days earlier. His loss will be wide spread and long lasting in his community.
He leaves his wife, a son, a stepdaughter, three brothers, and a legion of tourist and locals who will miss seeing him at his famous 'Batts Grill'.
His family will receive visitors from 5-7pm, Sunday, June 17, 2012 at Andrews Mortuary Hampstead Chapel.
A funeral service will be held at 2pm, Monday, June 18, 2012, at Surf City Baptist Church with Pastor Bobby Owings officiating. Burial will follow at Sea Lawn Memorial Park. (an original biography written by CM)
Kenny, who grew up in a small beach community along with his three brothers learned the value of hard work at an early age. Over the years, without fail, he opened the Batts Grill for breakfast for people who were looking to spend a week or two away from home in a sunny spot along the ocean. Kenny himself rarely, if ever, gave himself the luxury of getting out of town for some rest, although he could easily have afforded it.
Kenny graduated from Topsail High School where his peers still remember his days as a popular athlete.
His ancestors were an integral part of settling the now popular vacation spot of Surf City. They even helped to give the town it's name, and several roads were named for his past family members including the main road leading over the Swing Bridge entering the beach.
He served several years on the Surf City Town Council, forging lifelong friendships as well as lifelong enemies along the way. During those meetings, "Kenny was one who sat back and listened to everyone else talk talk talk and then would come out with just a few words that went right to the heart of the matter." according to one local resident.
His restaurant, Batts Grill, located in the heart of town, was a must for tourist who vacationed there as well as the locals who enjoyed the comfortable feel of walking in and being greeted by Kenny and his staff each morning. Everyone knew everyone, and many friendships were formed by years of customers having coffee together. He served generations of families as each year they would come back insisting on seeing Kenny and showing him how much their children had grown. Eventually those children grew up and brought their own children.
It wasn't always a restaurant. When Kenny was growing up it was orginally a bait and tackle shop run by his father. Kenny took an interest in the building and found himself making Hotdogs for customers, and eventually he turned the former bait & tackle into the cafe it is today. Although the building was old, in great need of repair and its ambiance was an acquired taste, there was no denying the fact that you got the best seafood meal, or best breakfast you could get for a fair price. The local population on the Island was sparse in the winter and there just weren't enough locals to support the cafe during those cold months. So to support his young family during those lean times, Kenny would harvest Oysters in the cold waters of the sound. This was a freezing cold job, that he once remarked he hated, but he knew that's what he had to do to support his family. But come spring, just before Easter, he once again welcomed the tourist for a new season.
Kenny was a lot of things to a lot of people. He was witty, smart, gruff, giving, kind, mean, determined, short tempered, forgiving, unpretentious, no nonsense, fun and biting all at the same time. He held nothing back, spoke his mind and rarely missed his mark. Whether you liked or tolerated him, you had to be honest with yourself and admit that Kenny was a good friend to have. Everyone who called him friend felt they had a special bond with him, and believe me when I tell you that everybody knew him.
Kenneth died at age 60 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center following a bicycle/vehicle accident four days earlier. His loss will be wide spread and long lasting in his community.
He leaves his wife, a son, a stepdaughter, three brothers, and a legion of tourist and locals who will miss seeing him at his famous 'Batts Grill'.
His family will receive visitors from 5-7pm, Sunday, June 17, 2012 at Andrews Mortuary Hampstead Chapel.
A funeral service will be held at 2pm, Monday, June 18, 2012, at Surf City Baptist Church with Pastor Bobby Owings officiating. Burial will follow at Sea Lawn Memorial Park. (an original biography written by CM)
Kenny graduated from Topsail High School where his peers still remember his days as a popular athlete.
His ancestors were an integral part of settling the now popular vacation spot of Surf City. They even helped to give the town it's name, and several roads were named for his past family members including the main road leading over the Swing Bridge entering the beach.
He served several years on the Surf City Town Council, forging lifelong friendships as well as lifelong enemies along the way. During those meetings, "Kenny was one who sat back and listened to everyone else talk talk talk and then would come out with just a few words that went right to the heart of the matter." according to one local resident.
His restaurant, Batts Grill, located in the heart of town, was a must for tourist who vacationed there as well as the locals who enjoyed the comfortable feel of walking in and being greeted by Kenny and his staff each morning. Everyone knew everyone, and many friendships were formed by years of customers having coffee together. He served generations of families as each year they would come back insisting on seeing Kenny and showing him how much their children had grown. Eventually those children grew up and brought their own children.
It wasn't always a restaurant. When Kenny was growing up it was orginally a bait and tackle shop run by his father. Kenny took an interest in the building and found himself making Hotdogs for customers, and eventually he turned the former bait & tackle into the cafe it is today. Although the building was old, in great need of repair and its ambiance was an acquired taste, there was no denying the fact that you got the best seafood meal, or best breakfast you could get for a fair price. The local population on the Island was sparse in the winter and there just weren't enough locals to support the cafe during those cold months. So to support his young family during those lean times, Kenny would harvest Oysters in the cold waters of the sound. This was a freezing cold job, that he once remarked he hated, but he knew that's what he had to do to support his family. But come spring, just before Easter, he once again welcomed the tourist for a new season.
Kenny was a lot of things to a lot of people. He was witty, smart, gruff, giving, kind, mean, determined, short tempered, forgiving, unpretentious, no nonsense, fun and biting all at the same time. He held nothing back, spoke his mind and rarely missed his mark. Whether you liked or tolerated him, you had to be honest with yourself and admit that Kenny was a good friend to have. Everyone who called him friend felt they had a special bond with him, and believe me when I tell you that everybody knew him.
Kenneth died at age 60 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center following a bicycle/vehicle accident four days earlier. His loss will be wide spread and long lasting in his community.
He leaves his wife, a son, a stepdaughter, three brothers, and a legion of tourist and locals who will miss seeing him at his famous 'Batts Grill'.
His family will receive visitors from 5-7pm, Sunday, June 17, 2012 at Andrews Mortuary Hampstead Chapel.
A funeral service will be held at 2pm, Monday, June 18, 2012, at Surf City Baptist Church with Pastor Bobby Owings officiating. Burial will follow at Sea Lawn Memorial Park. (an original biography written by CM)
