Marion Betts Shaw Smith

Marion Betts Shaw Smith died peacefully and went to be with Jesus on the morning of her 97th birthday on January 11, 2023 at Tender Personal Care Home 2 of Lawrenceville, Georgia. Her funeral service will be at 1:00 PM on Monday, January 16th at First Presbyterian Church of Albany, Georgia with visitation prior to the service at noon. Interment will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery. An additional visitation is to be held in Gwinnett County on Saturday, January 14th, at Norcross First United Methodist Church from 2:00 PM – 4:00PM. Born January 11, 1926 in Wilmington, Delaware to Joseph Henry Shaw and Alice Tatnall Betts Shaw, she is a graduate of Wilmington Friends School (1943) and Stratford College (1945). Betts married Charles Hamilton Smith, III on November 13, 1948 and they relocated to Albany, Georgia in 1949, where they lived on Bonnie Brae Plantation until 1986, then moved to the Doublegate subdivision. She moved to Gwinnett County, Georgia in 2014 to be near her children. In Albany, Betts was a member and Elder Emeritus of First Presbyterian Church of Albany. Over the years she served as a Sunday School teacher, President of the Women of the Church, and filled several Presbytery positions. Her faith brought her to participate in many organizations: Daughters of the American Colonists (Pierre Robert Chapter and James Edward Oglethorpe Chapter); Charity League of Albany – life member, former President; Albany Women’s Club, former President; Dougherty County Kiwanis Club – Hixson Fellow; Mended Hearts; Doublegate Ladies Golf Association; Flint River Power Squadron; and Albany Garden Club. Betts is fondly remembered by many in Albany for volunteering at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital; Meals on Wheels; American Heart Association; League of Women Voters; Easter Seal Society; and supported The Albany Museum of Art, Albany Little Theatre, Symphony Albany, and Albany Ballet. In Gwinnett County, Betts was an active participant and supporter at Discovery Village Senior Living community, Lawrenceville 1st UMC in the Joy Class, Grace Arbor, and volunteered at Pregnancy Resource Center of Gwinnett. She was preceded in death by both her parents, husband Charles and sisters Barbara Shaw Shinners, and Virginia Shaw Martin. Betts is survived by her children, Joseph Henry Smith (Susan), and Karen Smith Griffin (James), grandchildren Kris Hendricks (Jessica), David Hendricks, Jill Ridout (A.J.), Elizabeth Riskowitz, and great-grandchildren Corbin Hendricks, Rebecca Hendricks, Molly Ridout, Fisher Ridout, Liam Ridout, Selah Ridout, and two “step-great-grands” Sera Domeier and Kayla Orange. A special thank you to Mary and Daniel and her caregivers at Tender Personal Care Home and Bridgeway Hospice. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Grace Arbor Adult Respite Care, PO Box 2127 Lawrenceville GA 30043 or the charity of your choice.

Marion Betts Shaw Smith

January 11, 1926 - January 11, 2023