Lee H. Bettis, Jr.

Lee H. Bettis, Jr., retired U.S. Marine Colonel and long-time Albany banker, died December 10, 2025. He was 84. Born June 23, 1941, in Memphis, Tenn., he was the first born of Lee and Maxine Bettis, who predeceased him. He also was predeceased by an infant son and his oldest grandson, Stanton Jones. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Evie Bragg Bettis of Albany; a daughter, Suzanne Bettis (Jennifer) of Apalachicola, FL; a son, Ty Bettis (Raines) of Albany; his younger brother, Hal Bettis of Houston, Tex.; four grandsons, Bragg Jones (Kaitlyn), Charles Jones (Lela), Harren Bettis, and Smith Bettis; two great granddaughters, Madison Fleming and Lilly Jones. Bettis was baptized and confirmed at Calvary Episcopal Church, Memphis, and was a long-time member of St. Paul’s, Albany. While living in Apalachicola, Fla. from 2017 to 2022, he was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. He served as senior warden there for two years. Bettis graduated from Central High School, Memphis, in 1959. He then went to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville on a football scholarship, where he graduated in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. After graduation from UT, Bettis worked two years for Third National Bank, Nashville, Tenn., before joining the U.S. Marine Corp. In April 1966, he was commissioned a second lieutenant. Bettis was a graduate of the Naval War College and also received a master’s in management from Salve Regina College, Newport, R.I. His military schooling also included Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, Va., and the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy. His assignments included tours in Japan, Vietnam, the Washington, D.C. area, and two assignments at Albany’s Marine Corp Logistics Base—the first one in the 1970s and the final one in 1986. In February of that year, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. After 25 years of service, Bettis retired from the Marine Corps on April 1, 1990, and began an Albany-based banking career, first as Citizens and Southern National Bank’s regional vice president for marketing/economic development. Then, in October 1992, he joined AGE Federal Credit Union as president. The following October, he was elected CEO. AGE later converted to a savings bank and began doing business as Heritage Bank of the South. A holding company had been formed, Heritage Financial Group. Bettis was CEO of the bank and its parent organization, each based in Albany. Bettis left both positions in 2003. During his banking career, he was active in Albany’s civic life. Bettis was a 1989 graduate of Leadership Albany, chairman of the board of United Way of Southwest Georgia, and general chairman of the Darton College Foundation Capital Fund Drive. He also was active in the Dougherty County Rotary Club, the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, Salvation Army, Boys Club of Albany, and Liberty House. The family wishes to thank Peggy Bozeman, Billie Kearns, Brenda Mathis, and his many other kind and dedicated caregivers. Funeral services will be held Monday, December 15, 2025, at 1:00PM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, in downtown Albany. His ashes will be interred in the church’s memorial garden following the funeral. The family suggests that memorial gifts be made to St. Paul’s, 212 N. Jefferson St., Albany, Ga. 31701 or to a charity of one’s own choosing.

Lee H. Bettis, Jr.

June 23, 1941 - December 10, 2025