Betty Jo Hurston VanSant, 85, of Tuscumbia died July 17, 2016.
Mrs. VanSant was born in Tuscumbia, July 30, 1930, the daughter of Robert Burns and Evelyn Brock Hurston.
Mrs. VanSant was a member of the Deshler High School class of 1948. After graduation, she attended the University of Mississippi and transferred to Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University), where she graduated in 1952 with a BS in Education. While in college, Mrs. VanSant was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority. Mrs. VanSant remained an avid Auburn football and Auburn Knights fan her entire life.
Upon graduation from college, Mrs. VanSant returned to Tuscumbia, where she taught Speech and English at Sheffield High School and Deshler High School. Later in life, she had a private Speech Therapy practice. She was part of the Speech and Hearing Department of the Northwest Alabama Rehabilitation Center for many years. She enjoyed the process of helping improve the lives of young and old patients.
Mrs. VanSant was a member of the First Methodist Church of Tuscumbia until her marriage and then became an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Florence. She sang in the choir and was a member of the ECW for many years and taught Sunday school when her children were young. She was an active parent in school projects for her three daughters — sewing costumes and playing the piano for class performances. She was a Girl Scout troop leader for her three girls. Later in life, she shared her musical gift by playing the piano for a new church in Sheffield, because she had a life long friendship with the pastor Rev. Harold Shaw.
Mrs. VanSant was a big supporter of the local arts. She was a cast member of many Summer Musical Theater and Zodiac productions. She was very active in the Friends of Kennedy Douglas and the Tennessee Valley Art Association. She continued her support of the theatrical arts in the area by being an annual ticket patron to local performances. She was a sustaining member of the Muscle Shoals District Service League (now Junior League). When the major fundraiser for The Service League was “The Follies,” she enjoyed being an active participant in the performances.
Mrs. VanSant is survived by her husband George Marshall VanSant, Tuscumbia; Daughters Evelyn VanSant Mauldin (Fennel), Leighton, Martha VanSant Zuelke, Tuscumbia, and Mary Marshall VanSant, Tuscumbia; two granddaughters, Elizabeth Lloyd Zuelke, Memphis and Mary Hurston Zuelke, Tuscumbia; her brother Robert Burns Hurston (Martha Lita) Memphis and their three children and grandchildren; sister-in-law Carolyn H. VanSant, Chapel Hill, NC
Visitation will be in the Parrish Hall at Trinity Episcopal Church, Florence Wednesday, July 20, 2016 from 11-2. Service of Burial will be held in the Church Sanctuary at 2 p.m. Interment will follow at Tuscumbia Oakwood Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice or the St Francis Fund at Trinity Episcopal Church, P.O. Box M, Florence, AL 35631.
Morrison Funeral Home Tuscumbia, will be assisting the family.
