Betty Joe Appleton, born March 3, 1938, won her victory at the age of 88 on March 10, 2026. She was surrounded and comforted in her final days by the very ones she loved and devoted her life to caring for.
Betty’s early years were spent with her parents Porter and Aulsie McGill, and younger brother Ted, in Minor Hill, Tennessee. It was there she met and fell in love with Ralph Appleton. The two eloped when she was 18 years old. Settling in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, they spent 55 beautiful years together raising their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Betty was retired from E.S. Robbins Corporation where she worked in Human Resources. Although a dependable employee with an admirable work ethic, her heart was primarily devoted to her faith and family. There was nothing this side of Heaven more important to Betty than being a wife, nurturing those she loved, and guiding them to a relationship with Christ. She was an incredibly sweet and selfless person, who lived to make the lives of those around her better.
Throughout her life, Betty enjoyed many hobbies. She adored nature, flowers, plants, and roses specifically. Her personal rose garden was a work of art, and gifting hand-gathered bouquets brought her great joy. She enjoyed reading books of all kinds and was a dedicated student of the Bible. She adored the simple pleasures of cooking, sewing, and swinging on her back porch. But nothing surpassed her love for her children and grandchildren. She was an active presence in their everyday lives, frequently hosting even the great-grands overnight until they grew up. After losing Ralph in 2011, she relocated to Waynesboro, Tennessee to be closer to her daughter Kim and family.
Betty is survived by her daughters Kim Haggard and Pam Wesson, grandchildren Chad, Eric, and Andrew Zills, Tara Hollis, and Anna Beth Haggard, brother Ted McGill, special niece Nikki South, and much loved in-laws Steve Wesson, Jerry Hollis, Jenny, Megan, and Robyn Zills, Phillip South, and Renee McGill. Betty cherished her 10 great-grandchildren, great-niece and great-nephew- all of whom will forever treasure her memory.
She was preceded in death by her parents Porter and Aulsie McGill, beloved husband Ralph Appleton, sons Chris and Jeff Appleton, and two special sons-in-law, David Zills and Bob Haggard.
Her life was rich with much love and many sweet moments, and she was grateful.
Services for Betty will be held Monday, March 16th at 1 pm at Waynesboro Church of Christ with Gregg Lee and Mitchell Skelton officiating. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service. Interment will follow at 3:30 pm at Colbert Memorial Gardens, Tuscumbia, Alabama. Pallbearers will be Chad, Eric, Andrew, and Carter Zills, Jerry and Dominic Hollis, and Phillip and Wesley South. Honorary pallbearers: Sam, Sean, and Conner Zills.
