09/26/35 – 05/17/22
Betty Jean was born to Herman & Margaret Boswell Chadwick. She grew up in the Center Grove (Maben) Community and was a lifelong resident of Mississippi. She was married to Johnie Mack Dawkins for over 60 years. They had three children: Sandra Gail “Sandy” Dawkins Nail (Jerry), Johnie Russel “Rusty” Dawkins (Dana), and Jeffrey Mack “Jeff” Dawkins (Kathy). They were also blessed with three precious grandchildren: Blake Chadwick Dawkins, Lauren Ashley Dawkins, and Russel Tyler Dawkins.
Betty worked, for many years, at the home she and Johnie Mack shared on the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, helping to run the permit office. Later, she continued working for the State of Mississippi as a District Manager for the WiC Program. She was loved by many and will be missed by all who knew her.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Margaret Chadwick, her husband, Johnie Mack Dawkins, her daughter Sandra Gail “Sandy”, her son, Johnie Russel “Rusty”, her brother, Marvin Chadwick, and one grandson, Johnathan Michael Dawkins.
She is survived by one son, Jeffrey Mack Dawkins, Daughter-in-Law Kathy, Daughter-in Law, Dana, Son-in-Law, Jerry Nail, grandchildren, Blake Dawkins, Lauren Dawkins, and Tyler Dawkins, brothers, Charles Chadwick, Herman M. “Buddy” Chadwick, Sisters, Judy Williams, Peggy Keane, Mary Carolyn Murray, Faye Agnelly, and Frances Blackwell. She is also survived by countless nieces and nephews, Brother-in-Law Charles Dawkins, Sister-in-Law, Faye Dawkins, one very special Great-Great Nephew Jack Cohen Pritchard, and very special buddy, Thomas Travis Carpenter IV, lovingly known as T4, with whom she shared a very special bond.
Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2022 from 9:00-11:30 a.m. at Welch Funeral Home in Starkville, MS, with the funeral service immediately following in the funeral home chapel. Rev. Allan Dees will conduct the service. Burial will be in Memorial Garden Park Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be: Jack Day, Chris Thomas, Derrick Goldben, Greg Pritchard, Gary Scoggins, Charles Yarbrough. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Glenn Oakley, Jim Todd, Roben Dawkins, & Charlie Waggoner.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude Research Hospital or the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
