'Uncle' Lionel Batiste Second-Line Draws Hundreds

A second-line parade honoring 'Uncle' Lionel Batiste drew hundreds to Rampart Street and Elysian Fields Avenue late Friday afternoon. Batiste, bass drummer for the Treme Brass Band, died July 8.

The start of the march at the Candlelight Lounge in the Treme was delayed for half an hour because of a thunderstorm violent enough to draw a warning from the National Weather Service. After the storm passed, however, the afternoon heat had been broken, and Batiste's friends and fans gathered.

Batiste's funeral is set for Friday at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts, 805 N. Rampart St., in Armstrong Park, where viewing will be from 9 to 11 a.m., with the funeral at 11 a.m., followed by a jazz funeral procession from Mahalia Jackson to the Mount Olivet Cemetery, 4100 Norman Mayer Blvd.

An "Uncle" Lionel Memorial Fund has been established to help the family with medical and funeral expenses at Treme2012.com as well as any Liberty Bank and Trust Branch at LibertyBank.net). Donations also can be sent to: "Uncle" Lionel Memorial Fund, c/o Liberty Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 60131, New Orleans, LA 70160-0131.

Source:http://www.nola.com