Maxine T. Bettis Obituary

Mrs. Maxine Adele Tompkins Bettis, 96, a native of Arkansas and a resident of Memphis, Tenn., for 68 years, died Thursday, January 31, 2008 at Evergreen Senior Living Center, Albany, GA. She had lived in Albany since 1988.Mrs. Bettis was preceded in death by her husband, Lee H. Bettis, Sr., a Memphis native who was president of George T. Brodnax, The city's premier jewelers, which later became part of Bailey Banks & Biddle. Mr. Bettis died in 1981.Mrs. Bettis, who was born March 14, 1911, in Helena, Ark., also was preceded in death by her parents Charles Tracy Tompkins and Minnie Grindstaff Tompkins of Memphis and three sisters: Mrs. Margaret Tate of Agawam, Mass; Mrs. Juanita Lowery of Memphis, and Mrs. Charlene Hudson of Naples, Fla.Active in civic affairs in Memphis, Mrs. Bettis was past president of the Memphis and Shelby County Council of Garden Clubs. She was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church for more than 50 years. In Albany, she was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.Mrs. Bettis moved to Albany in 1988 to live near her son, Lee H. Bettis, Jr., retired CEO of Heritage Bank of the South and USMC Colonel and his wife Evie Bragg Bettis. They are resident of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., as well as Albany.She is also survived by a son Hal L. Bettis and his wife Patti Moore Bettis of Houston, Texas. In addition there are four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.The grandchildren are Suzanne Lee Bettis and Lee H. (Ty) Bettis, III, (Raines Smith Bettis) of Albany, and Hal L. Bettis, Jr., (Jennifer Austin Bettis) of Houston, and Sally Bettis Gupton (John Robert Gupton) also of Houston.The eight great-grandchildren are Stanton Emery Jones, Bragg Blackshear Jones, Charles Tompkins Jones, Lee Harren Bettis, IV, and Smith Phillips Bettis, all of Albany, and Hunter Austin Bettis, Hannah Mae Bettis, and Charlotte Ruth Bettis, all of Houston.The body was cremated. The ashes will be buried at St. Paul's Episcopal Church following a memorial service there on, Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 2 PM. The Very Rev. Mark Jones officiating. There will be a reception in the church Parrish Hall following the service.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 211 N. Jefferson St., Albany, GA 31701, or to Albany Community Hospice, 2232 Lake Park Dr., Albany, Ga. 31707.

Maxine T. Bettis Obituary

March 14, 1911 - January 31, 2008