Elizabeth W. (Betty) Williams, Mississippi's former First Lady, died of congestive heart failure on Thursday, January 7, 2010, at St. Catherine's Village in Madison, MS.
Visitation will be today from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home, High Street. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 11, 2010, from the chapel of Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home, High Street. Burial will follow in Raymond Cemetery.
Betty Ann Wells was born on July 29, 1921 in Columbus, Mississippi to Paul Lamar and Julia Owen Wells, welcomed by brothers Paul L. Wells, Jr. and Hoyt R. Wells. During the depression her father worked as a Soil Conservationist, so her family moved all over Mississippi and Arkansas as she was growing up. She graduated from Shuqualak High School, then spent her freshman year of college at MSCW. Her father let her transfer to Co-Lin Junior College on the condition "on behalf of her future husband" that she major in Home Economics, then went on to finish her degree at Mississippi Southern College (later USM). Upon graduation, she went to work for Mississippi Power and Light as a Home Demonstration Agent.
During World War II Betty enlisted in the WAC with dreams of being sent to Europe. The army, having other ideas, sent her for basic training to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, then stationed her in Denver where she learned photography and controlled mosaics, putting together photos to make a panoramic view of an area under surveillance. Her final posting was at McDill in Tampa, where, according to Betty, she flirted and had a good time.
Her parents had moved to Raymond, MS by this time, where her father was the County Agent and her mother taught drama in the local schools. On leave one day in the spring, as did everybody in town (regardless of religious affiliation), she attended the revival meetings at the Baptist Church. She was wearing a pretty yellow dress when she spotted Raymond's war hero - and he spotted her. As Betty said, there was this slim, extremely handsome, mustached War Hero in the church - he looked at her, she looked at him, and the rest was history. On October 12, 1944, in a ceremony held in the Raymond Presbyterian Church, she became Mrs. John Bell Williams.
In 1946, John Bell announced that he was running for Congress. Betty and John Bell traveled all around the district campaigning. The young war hero, with his stump of a left arm, won handily. They went to Washington in 1947 to become part of the 80th Congress, (a congress that included John Kennedy and Richard Nixon, among many other notables).
Betty enjoyed being a Congressional wife. John Bell was on the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, which meant, among other things, that they went to parties sponsored by movie studios. These were very glamorous affairs, during which they met movie stars and saw screenings of new movies. They also attended many White House functions. And during that time they had three children, Marcia Elizabeth, John Bell, Jr., and Kelly Wells.
On February 11, 1967, John Bell stood on the lawn of the Raymond Court House and announced his candidacy for Governor of Mississippi. Once again Betty and John Bell teamed up to campaign. Betty appeared on television and in person making campaign speeches. Between them the two covered the entire state. Their efforts succeeded; John Bell won. Betty served as Mississippi's First Lady from 1968 - 1972. Her platform during that time was mental health; she went all over the country telling about her own nervous breakdown in the early '60's. She did everything she could to remove the stigma of mental illness by publicizing her own and lending her support to mental health initiatives wherever she went.
After they left office, John Bell and Betty quietly divorced after nearly 30 years of marriage.
Betty went back to school, earning a Master's at USM and a Specialist's degree in counseling from Mississippi College, began a career teaching in high school and at Hinds Community College. She lived a happy life, watching her children move into adulthood, get married, establish careers, and give her grandchildren. She became one of the first residents of St. Catherine's, moving in soon after it opened. Her life there was filled with spoiling her grandchildren as well as the writing, production, and direction of plays starring the residents; painting; and playing bridge. She served a brief stint as the surrogate mother to two of her grandchildren while her daughter-in-law completed her doctorate in Kansas.
She was preceded in death by her mother, father, brothers, and former husband.
She is survived by her children, Marcia, John (Jean), and Kelly (Randye); her grandchildren, Jay (Corinne), Edward (Adrian), Devin, and Karlye; her great-grandchildren, Deanna, Kaden, Lilly, and Jack; and three nieces, Betty Emison (Jim), Susie Wells, and Kelly Van Devender.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests sending donations to the Salvation Army, St. Catherine's Village, or Ridgeland Hospice Ministries.
The family wishes to thank the staff of St. Catherine's Village (Betty thoroughly enjoyed living there) and St. Dominic's for their loving care during her illness. In addition her daughter wishes to express her appreciation to the employees of Applebee's Restaurant in Madison for the many delightful meals she and her mother enjoyed. The family would also like to express our gratitude to the owner and staff, especially Pat Saunders, of The Doll House Beauty Salon, who always made Mom feel and look beautiful. Published in Clarion Ledger on January 10, 2010
Visitation will be today from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home, High Street. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 11, 2010, from the chapel of Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home, High Street. Burial will follow in Raymond Cemetery.
Betty Ann Wells was born on July 29, 1921 in Columbus, Mississippi to Paul Lamar and Julia Owen Wells, welcomed by brothers Paul L. Wells, Jr. and Hoyt R. Wells. During the depression her father worked as a Soil Conservationist, so her family moved all over Mississippi and Arkansas as she was growing up. She graduated from Shuqualak High School, then spent her freshman year of college at MSCW. Her father let her transfer to Co-Lin Junior College on the condition "on behalf of her future husband" that she major in Home Economics, then went on to finish her degree at Mississippi Southern College (later USM). Upon graduation, she went to work for Mississippi Power and Light as a Home Demonstration Agent.
During World War II Betty enlisted in the WAC with dreams of being sent to Europe. The army, having other ideas, sent her for basic training to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, then stationed her in Denver where she learned photography and controlled mosaics, putting together photos to make a panoramic view of an area under surveillance. Her final posting was at McDill in Tampa, where, according to Betty, she flirted and had a good time.
Her parents had moved to Raymond, MS by this time, where her father was the County Agent and her mother taught drama in the local schools. On leave one day in the spring, as did everybody in town (regardless of religious affiliation), she attended the revival meetings at the Baptist Church. She was wearing a pretty yellow dress when she spotted Raymond's war hero - and he spotted her. As Betty said, there was this slim, extremely handsome, mustached War Hero in the church - he looked at her, she looked at him, and the rest was history. On October 12, 1944, in a ceremony held in the Raymond Presbyterian Church, she became Mrs. John Bell Williams.
In 1946, John Bell announced that he was running for Congress. Betty and John Bell traveled all around the district campaigning. The young war hero, with his stump of a left arm, won handily. They went to Washington in 1947 to become part of the 80th Congress, (a congress that included John Kennedy and Richard Nixon, among many other notables).
Betty enjoyed being a Congressional wife. John Bell was on the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, which meant, among other things, that they went to parties sponsored by movie studios. These were very glamorous affairs, during which they met movie stars and saw screenings of new movies. They also attended many White House functions. And during that time they had three children, Marcia Elizabeth, John Bell, Jr., and Kelly Wells.
On February 11, 1967, John Bell stood on the lawn of the Raymond Court House and announced his candidacy for Governor of Mississippi. Once again Betty and John Bell teamed up to campaign. Betty appeared on television and in person making campaign speeches. Between them the two covered the entire state. Their efforts succeeded; John Bell won. Betty served as Mississippi's First Lady from 1968 - 1972. Her platform during that time was mental health; she went all over the country telling about her own nervous breakdown in the early '60's. She did everything she could to remove the stigma of mental illness by publicizing her own and lending her support to mental health initiatives wherever she went.
After they left office, John Bell and Betty quietly divorced after nearly 30 years of marriage.
Betty went back to school, earning a Master's at USM and a Specialist's degree in counseling from Mississippi College, began a career teaching in high school and at Hinds Community College. She lived a happy life, watching her children move into adulthood, get married, establish careers, and give her grandchildren. She became one of the first residents of St. Catherine's, moving in soon after it opened. Her life there was filled with spoiling her grandchildren as well as the writing, production, and direction of plays starring the residents; painting; and playing bridge. She served a brief stint as the surrogate mother to two of her grandchildren while her daughter-in-law completed her doctorate in Kansas.
She was preceded in death by her mother, father, brothers, and former husband.
She is survived by her children, Marcia, John (Jean), and Kelly (Randye); her grandchildren, Jay (Corinne), Edward (Adrian), Devin, and Karlye; her great-grandchildren, Deanna, Kaden, Lilly, and Jack; and three nieces, Betty Emison (Jim), Susie Wells, and Kelly Van Devender.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests sending donations to the Salvation Army, St. Catherine's Village, or Ridgeland Hospice Ministries.
The family wishes to thank the staff of St. Catherine's Village (Betty thoroughly enjoyed living there) and St. Dominic's for their loving care during her illness. In addition her daughter wishes to express her appreciation to the employees of Applebee's Restaurant in Madison for the many delightful meals she and her mother enjoyed. The family would also like to express our gratitude to the owner and staff, especially Pat Saunders, of The Doll House Beauty Salon, who always made Mom feel and look beautiful. Published in Clarion Ledger on January 10, 2010
Elizabeth W. (Betty) Williams, Mississippi's former First Lady, died of congestive heart failure on Thursday, January 7, 2010, at St. Catherine's Village in Madison, MS.
Visitation will be today from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home, High Street. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 11, 2010, from the chapel of Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home, High Street. Burial will follow in Raymond Cemetery.
Betty Ann Wells was born on July 29, 1921 in Columbus, Mississippi to Paul Lamar and Julia Owen Wells, welcomed by brothers Paul L. Wells, Jr. and Hoyt R. Wells. During the depression her father worked as a Soil Conservationist, so her family moved all over Mississippi and Arkansas as she was growing up. She graduated from Shuqualak High School, then spent her freshman year of college at MSCW. Her father let her transfer to Co-Lin Junior College on the condition "on behalf of her future husband" that she major in Home Economics, then went on to finish her degree at Mississippi Southern College (later USM). Upon graduation, she went to work for Mississippi Power and Light as a Home Demonstration Agent.
During World War II Betty enlisted in the WAC with dreams of being sent to Europe. The army, having other ideas, sent her for basic training to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, then stationed her in Denver where she learned photography and controlled mosaics, putting together photos to make a panoramic view of an area under surveillance. Her final posting was at McDill in Tampa, where, according to Betty, she flirted and had a good time.
Her parents had moved to Raymond, MS by this time, where her father was the County Agent and her mother taught drama in the local schools. On leave one day in the spring, as did everybody in town (regardless of religious affiliation), she attended the revival meetings at the Baptist Church. She was wearing a pretty yellow dress when she spotted Raymond's war hero - and he spotted her. As Betty said, there was this slim, extremely handsome, mustached War Hero in the church - he looked at her, she looked at him, and the rest was history. On October 12, 1944, in a ceremony held in the Raymond Presbyterian Church, she became Mrs. John Bell Williams.
In 1946, John Bell announced that he was running for Congress. Betty and John Bell traveled all around the district campaigning. The young war hero, with his stump of a left arm, won handily. They went to Washington in 1947 to become part of the 80th Congress, (a congress that included John Kennedy and Richard Nixon, among many other notables).
Betty enjoyed being a Congressional wife. John Bell was on the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, which meant, among other things, that they went to parties sponsored by movie studios. These were very glamorous affairs, during which they met movie stars and saw screenings of new movies. They also attended many White House functions. And during that time they had three children, Marcia Elizabeth, John Bell, Jr., and Kelly Wells.
On February 11, 1967, John Bell stood on the lawn of the Raymond Court House and announced his candidacy for Governor of Mississippi. Once again Betty and John Bell teamed up to campaign. Betty appeared on television and in person making campaign speeches. Between them the two covered the entire state. Their efforts succeeded; John Bell won. Betty served as Mississippi's First Lady from 1968 - 1972. Her platform during that time was mental health; she went all over the country telling about her own nervous breakdown in the early '60's. She did everything she could to remove the stigma of mental illness by publicizing her own and lending her support to mental health initiatives wherever she went.
After they left office, John Bell and Betty quietly divorced after nearly 30 years of marriage.
Betty went back to school, earning a Master's at USM and a Specialist's degree in counseling from Mississippi College, began a career teaching in high school and at Hinds Community College. She lived a happy life, watching her children move into adulthood, get married, establish careers, and give her grandchildren. She became one of the first residents of St. Catherine's, moving in soon after it opened. Her life there was filled with spoiling her grandchildren as well as the writing, production, and direction of plays starring the residents; painting; and playing bridge. She served a brief stint as the surrogate mother to two of her grandchildren while her daughter-in-law completed her doctorate in Kansas.
She was preceded in death by her mother, father, brothers, and former husband.
She is survived by her children, Marcia, John (Jean), and Kelly (Randye); her grandchildren, Jay (Corinne), Edward (Adrian), Devin, and Karlye; her great-grandchildren, Deanna, Kaden, Lilly, and Jack; and three nieces, Betty Emison (Jim), Susie Wells, and Kelly Van Devender.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests sending donations to the Salvation Army, St. Catherine's Village, or Ridgeland Hospice Ministries.
The family wishes to thank the staff of St. Catherine's Village (Betty thoroughly enjoyed living there) and St. Dominic's for their loving care during her illness. In addition her daughter wishes to express her appreciation to the employees of Applebee's Restaurant in Madison for the many delightful meals she and her mother enjoyed. The family would also like to express our gratitude to the owner and staff, especially Pat Saunders, of The Doll House Beauty Salon, who always made Mom feel and look beautiful. Published in Clarion Ledger on January 10, 2010
Visitation will be today from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home, High Street. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 11, 2010, from the chapel of Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home, High Street. Burial will follow in Raymond Cemetery.
Betty Ann Wells was born on July 29, 1921 in Columbus, Mississippi to Paul Lamar and Julia Owen Wells, welcomed by brothers Paul L. Wells, Jr. and Hoyt R. Wells. During the depression her father worked as a Soil Conservationist, so her family moved all over Mississippi and Arkansas as she was growing up. She graduated from Shuqualak High School, then spent her freshman year of college at MSCW. Her father let her transfer to Co-Lin Junior College on the condition "on behalf of her future husband" that she major in Home Economics, then went on to finish her degree at Mississippi Southern College (later USM). Upon graduation, she went to work for Mississippi Power and Light as a Home Demonstration Agent.
During World War II Betty enlisted in the WAC with dreams of being sent to Europe. The army, having other ideas, sent her for basic training to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, then stationed her in Denver where she learned photography and controlled mosaics, putting together photos to make a panoramic view of an area under surveillance. Her final posting was at McDill in Tampa, where, according to Betty, she flirted and had a good time.
Her parents had moved to Raymond, MS by this time, where her father was the County Agent and her mother taught drama in the local schools. On leave one day in the spring, as did everybody in town (regardless of religious affiliation), she attended the revival meetings at the Baptist Church. She was wearing a pretty yellow dress when she spotted Raymond's war hero - and he spotted her. As Betty said, there was this slim, extremely handsome, mustached War Hero in the church - he looked at her, she looked at him, and the rest was history. On October 12, 1944, in a ceremony held in the Raymond Presbyterian Church, she became Mrs. John Bell Williams.
In 1946, John Bell announced that he was running for Congress. Betty and John Bell traveled all around the district campaigning. The young war hero, with his stump of a left arm, won handily. They went to Washington in 1947 to become part of the 80th Congress, (a congress that included John Kennedy and Richard Nixon, among many other notables).
Betty enjoyed being a Congressional wife. John Bell was on the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, which meant, among other things, that they went to parties sponsored by movie studios. These were very glamorous affairs, during which they met movie stars and saw screenings of new movies. They also attended many White House functions. And during that time they had three children, Marcia Elizabeth, John Bell, Jr., and Kelly Wells.
On February 11, 1967, John Bell stood on the lawn of the Raymond Court House and announced his candidacy for Governor of Mississippi. Once again Betty and John Bell teamed up to campaign. Betty appeared on television and in person making campaign speeches. Between them the two covered the entire state. Their efforts succeeded; John Bell won. Betty served as Mississippi's First Lady from 1968 - 1972. Her platform during that time was mental health; she went all over the country telling about her own nervous breakdown in the early '60's. She did everything she could to remove the stigma of mental illness by publicizing her own and lending her support to mental health initiatives wherever she went.
After they left office, John Bell and Betty quietly divorced after nearly 30 years of marriage.
Betty went back to school, earning a Master's at USM and a Specialist's degree in counseling from Mississippi College, began a career teaching in high school and at Hinds Community College. She lived a happy life, watching her children move into adulthood, get married, establish careers, and give her grandchildren. She became one of the first residents of St. Catherine's, moving in soon after it opened. Her life there was filled with spoiling her grandchildren as well as the writing, production, and direction of plays starring the residents; painting; and playing bridge. She served a brief stint as the surrogate mother to two of her grandchildren while her daughter-in-law completed her doctorate in Kansas.
She was preceded in death by her mother, father, brothers, and former husband.
She is survived by her children, Marcia, John (Jean), and Kelly (Randye); her grandchildren, Jay (Corinne), Edward (Adrian), Devin, and Karlye; her great-grandchildren, Deanna, Kaden, Lilly, and Jack; and three nieces, Betty Emison (Jim), Susie Wells, and Kelly Van Devender.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests sending donations to the Salvation Army, St. Catherine's Village, or Ridgeland Hospice Ministries.
The family wishes to thank the staff of St. Catherine's Village (Betty thoroughly enjoyed living there) and St. Dominic's for their loving care during her illness. In addition her daughter wishes to express her appreciation to the employees of Applebee's Restaurant in Madison for the many delightful meals she and her mother enjoyed. The family would also like to express our gratitude to the owner and staff, especially Pat Saunders, of The Doll House Beauty Salon, who always made Mom feel and look beautiful. Published in Clarion Ledger on January 10, 2010
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