KINDNESS, GENEROSITY AND STRENGTH

In Loving Memory OfDecember 28, 1919 January 11, 2015Lexington, MS St. Louis, MO INTERMENT Friday, January 16, 2015 1 pmJefferson Barracks National Cemetery

Order of serviceAutomobile processional ……………… Family and FriendsPrayer and Scripture (John 14: 1) …………… Elise & KarenWords from her Children ………………. JoEveyln, Pamela, KarenTyroneMemories (2 minutes) ……………. Devin, Samantha, VictorPrayer of Committal ……………….. …………. EliseLord’s Prayer …………………………………….. EveryoneBlessing ……………………………………………. Elise

What three words best describe~Bettye alice williams~STRENGTH : the ability GENEROUS : liberal into exert effort for the giving or sharingaccomplishment of a taskKIND : warm – hearted natureThe facts…..Bettye Alice Tate was born on December 28, 1919, the first of three girls to Nathan Tate and Serena Rice-Tate in Lexington Mississippi. She remained the only child for 8 years when her sister Cornelia Tate was born then ChleoTate 5 years later. Her father Nathan was a Pullman Porter for the railroad andher mother was a homemaker. She was raised in the home with and under thecare of her beloved grandfather Papa Stephen Rice.As a child, Bettye was fortunate to have come from a family of land owners whogrew crops for Libby’s food packaging company.Her grandfather Stephen was one of the builders and landowners of the propertythat Saints Industrial and Literary School was built, which is where Bettye receivedher education through graduation.Upon finishing school, Bettye was offered a teaching position with a salary of $45a month. She chose to work as a hairstylist where she earned up to $45 a week.She married Joseph Levy Williams on May 6, 1939 who preceded her in death.That union led Bettye to bare 9 children from 8 pregnancies. Her first set of

children: two children who did not make full term, Lorraine and Johnathon, all ofwhom passed early in life. At the age of 22 she gave birth to Jo Evelyn then 17years later came: twins Carl and Karen, Tyrone and Pamela. (Carl passed away atthe age of 7 due to complications associated with a heart defect and Down’ssyndrome.)Bettye held a customer service position with Montgomery Ward for several years.Just as she has always wanted, Bettye passed away at her home on Sundayevening of January 12, 2015. Her remains were cremated and laid to rest with herhusband at Jefferson Barracks National Memorial Cemetery on Friday January 16,2015. _____________________From the heart...Bettye A Williams lived a long and self-less life. She had an ingrained desire to care for all. She had a quick witted sense of humor that could sting like hell, yet was still hilarious. She allowed any and ALL displaced family memberswho landed on the steps of 4253 West Aldine to take up residence. At one timethere were 22 peoples living in the 4 bedroom 2 story home. Only 6 were adults.She taught us how the world SHOULD be….not always how it really was. But thisallowed us to escape the harshness of society and rest assured that at GrandmaBettye’s house, she would provide you a place to sleep, bathe and eat.Bettye A Williams was a full of kindness, generosity and strength. She wasprobably the STRONGEST person that you knew, if you were honest with yourself.Many of us, have probably tried to model ourselves after her and raise ourchildren with some amount of the kindness and pure love that she bestowedupon us.She was determined to give us her ALL…..Equally. This was her TRUE SELF! Nogimmicks, No ulterior motives. Rather it being her dividing ONE ice creamsandwich EQUALLY among 10 children, or washing, ironing, folding and puttingaway all your clothes, doing all the dishes, preparing three FULL meals a day….Shegave her ALL….unconditionally WITHOUT complaint. Uncle Ty said recently, “I

know in my heart that there is NO ONE on this EARTH that loved us the way shedid.” It caused my emotions to overwhelm me. You see, although we didn’t agreewith or understand his actions at the time, I now believe it was Tyrone whohelped us to have Grandma as long as we did. When the rest of us went on withour lives, Tyrone put his life on hold to continue to take care of her. He once said:“There was NO WAY that I would walk away from my mother.” Although thejourney had not been as seamless as we hoped, he did his best. He admitted tome that that he would get angry with himself, because of all the qualities that hepossessed of his mother’s, he never quite had enough kindness…. And it botheredhim. However, her strength and unwavering love that Grandma instilled in him,aided him in the 5 years he primarily took care of her. “She is my Hero” hemournfully says.She is OUR SHE-ro! Never, that I can remember, have I met a person (especially ablack woman) who exemplified all of her characteristics. We should all aspire tobe as she was to all whom had to the opportunity to experience her radiance.It is my hope that we all are able to identify the STRENGTH, GENEROSITY ANDKINDNESS in ourselves that we experienced from Grandma Bettye, and continueto nurture and share it the way she did with everyone. She wants our families tobe close, she wants our families to prosper, and she wants our families to be aTrue family.There is so much more I want to say………I will just end with this….I love you all!Elise

Left to memorialize her: Sisters: Cornelia Suggs (William “Bill” Suggs) – TN/GA  Denise Rixter – GA Chleo Anderson – IL  Earl Anderson Jr. - IL  Glenda Anderson – IL Children & Grand-Children: JoEvelyn Williams – IL  Rochelle Bays – IL  Jerome Giddens – IL Karen Horton – IL  Elise Cox – GA  Christopher Battle Jr (Kwalnzia “Luci” Battle) – MO  Crystal Battle – IL  Michelle Battle – MO  Sydney Battle – MO  Michael Battle – MO  Destiny Pitt – IL Tyrone Williams – MO  Samantha Williams – IL Pamela Jacobs – MO  Devin Reed – CA  Angelique Jacobs – MO  Brandon Gilliam – MO Damien, Ariana, Cordelia, (Rochelle’s Children) - Monte, Deonte, Jermel, (Jerome’sChildren) - Victor, Kyla, S’rena, (Elise’s Children) - Christopher III, Christon, (Andre’sChildren) - Elizabeth, Precious, Neil, (Crystal’s Children) and a HOST of great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, family and friends.

If you knew our Grandma Bettye, youknow these 10 things: 1. She loved to watch the STL Cardinals play, especially during World Series. 2. She enjoyed tending to her flower and vegetable gardens. 3. Grandma Bettye would wear wool in the summer. 4. When she got “dressed up” she wore her Tamm (or beret). She had a black one, a red one and a beige one. 5. Her “perfume” was Avon Perfumed Liquid Deodorant. 6. Grandma always drew on her eyebrows with a Maybelline Brown eyebrow pencil. 7. If you had asthma, she made you drink Mullen Tea and warm cranberry juice. 8. Every day we had mixed greens and cornbread. 9. If you talked back , you had to “make your hand limber” 10. If you were really bad, you got the fly swatter. BONUS**** her favorite song for us is: I love you, a Bushel in a PeckI love you, a bushel in a peck, a bushel in a peck and a hugaround the neck (UH!) Hug around the neck (UH!)A barrel in a heap, a barrel in a heap and I’m talking inmy sleep about youuuuu, About youuuuu!

Preparations by: St. Louis Cremation 2135 Chouteau Ave St. Louis, MO 63103 1:15 pm Graveside Service: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery 2900 Sheridan Road St. Louis Mo 63125Thank you to all whom were able to come and for thosewho couldn’t but wanted to be there. Thank you for the prayers and empathy in our time of grieving.