Becky Rann Dethero, 83, passed away on June 14, 2024, at her home in Huntsville, Alabama. Born Rebecca Pauline Rann, Becky was the eldest of seven children, raised on a farm in Bradley County, Tennessee, amidst a large, close-knit family where music and various activities flourished. The family attended Broad Street United Methodist Church in Cleveland, Tennessee. As a child, Becky lived with her grandparents during the week to attend elementary school in Chattanooga.
After finishing at Bradley County High School, Becky later graduated from McKenzie College in Chattanooga. Shortly after completing her studies, she met John Dethero of Cleveland, who also attended Broad Street UMC. They married in 1965 and shared nearly 57 years together until John’s passing in February 2022. Throughout their marriage, Becky was deeply involved in raising their two sons, serving as a schoolroom mother, Cub Scout den mother, chauffeur for sports activities and a soccer mom in a station wagon. Becky and John operated a fine gifts store known as “Dethero’s Incorporated” for nearly a decade in the former Village Mall and later in an converted old house on Worth Street, both in Cleveland. For the rest of her life, Becky was known for her collections of china, crystal and transferware. They were active members of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland, where Becky served many roles and earned an Education for Ministry Certificate from The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.
Becky had a passion for writing and storytelling, which led her to write a nostalgia column for the Bradley News Weekly called “From the Porch Swing.” Her column, which depicted life in rural Tennessee and humorous events from her life, was later compiled into a book of the same name, receiving widespread praise. Her writing and marketing skills led to the publishing and distribution of a medical literature on eating and recovery for patients with wired jaws and requiring soft food diets, entitled “Let’s Do Lunch”. Additionally, Becky was an avid bird watcher, keeping detailed logs of bird sightings from her extensive travels. In her later years, she proudly represented Tennessee as a finalist in the Miss Granny Smith Apple Pageant in Washington State.
In 1999, Becky and John moved to Florence, Alabama, to be near their oldest son and grandchildren. Becky quickly became active in the Florence community through her involvement at Trinity Episcopal Church, the Kennedy-Douglas Center for the Arts, and more. In 2015, they moved to Redstone Village in Huntsville, Alabama, where they enjoyed many new friendships and activities. Becky continued her community engagement with the Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville Botanical Gardens, a garden club, and The Episcopal Church of the Nativity.
Becky was preceded in death by her parents, Grover and Pauline Rann; her sister, Alicia Ewing; and her husband, John Dethero. She is survived by her two sons and their wives: John Bradford (Brad) Dethero Jr. (Goode) and Paul Lockhart (Lock) Dethero (Larisa); and four grandchildren: Mary Geer, Annie, Sara, and Martina, who affectionately called her Dollie. Becky is also survived by five siblings: Renate Matthews of Murfreesboro, TN; Nancy Houston of Cumming, GA; Jeannie Prinslow of Waterville, KS; Grover Rann of Jacksonville, FL; and Patti Thigpen of Murfreesboro, TN; along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at The Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Huntsville, AL, on Saturday, July 13th at 2:00 pm, with Rev. Michael Goldsmith and Rev. Susan Sloan officiating. A reception will follow. Interment will be in the columbarium at Trinity Episcopal Church in Florence, AL with Rev. Callie Plunkett-Brewton. Elkins Funeral Home is assisting the family, who requests that memorials be made to the Food Bank of North Alabama, P.O. Box 18607, Huntsville, AL 35804.