Bettye Turbyfill O’Bannon, 84, died Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015, at the Columbia Cottage assisted living facility in Florence, Alabama.
Bettye was born Feb. 12, 1931, in Belmont, North Carolina, the only child of Norris and Sammye Robinson Turbyfill. After graduating from high school in Nashville, Tennessee, Bettye moved to Florence, Alabama, with her parents in the early 1950s and subsequently studied at Florence State Teacher’s College (UNA) and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa where she received a degree in elementary education. She then returned to Florence where she taught special needs children at Appleby school and Brandon schools. She left teaching to raise her three children. After returning to Nashville for a period of time, Bettye spent the last 18 years of her life as a resident of Columbia Cottage in Florence. She was a proud mother and grandmother who loved her children and grandchildren. Though she struggled with various illnesses for many years, she met the challenges with courage and a feistiness admired by those who knew her.
She is survived by her children, A. Stewart O’Bannon III, Marcus W. O’Bannon and Elizabeth Rebecca O’Bannon, and her grandchildren, Elizabeth O’Bannon Wilson, Sean Michael O’Bannon, Asa Dylan Huber and Catherine Rain Huber.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her grandson, Christopher Collin O’Bannon.
The memorial service will held Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, at 11 a.m. at the Love Mausoleum in Greenview Memorial Park. The Rev. Callie Plunket-Brewer will officiate. The family will greet friends following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity or organization of your choice.
Steve Chenault and Elkins Funeral Home are assisting the family.
