Bettye June McCaskill Bancroft took her last breath the morning of May 16th, 2020. No doubt she was attended by angels, known and unknown. Bettye was born at home in Vicksburg MS. to John Leon and Bertha Delilah McCaskill on June 8th, 1936 at 2:00 A.M.
Dr. Johnston was in a hurry to get home so when filling out the birth certificate, he didn’t know the baby’s name. His nurse’s name was Aline, so that is what he put on her birth certificate. When “Bettye” needed to register at Hinds Junior College in 1955, she was surprised to see that her name was Aline. They admitted her anyway and called her Bettye while she applied for a corrected birth certificate.
During her years at Jett High School and Hinds Junior College, John and Bertha kept her under a very tight rein. Once she got out from under their roof, that was a different story. We have laughed and been shocked at stories of her college life. Not sure what is so bad about doing a hula going down the fire escape during a fire drill. Evidently nice young ladies took fire drills seriously.
After graduating from M.S.C.W. with a degree in Social Work and a minor in Psychology, she accepted a position with the Mississippi Department of Welfare in Meridian, MS. Bettye’s boyfriend at the time was a student at Mississippi State in Starkville and knew his buddy, Harold, was also from Meridian. After a double date, he innocently asked Harold to “keep an eye on Bettye.” Harold was happy to oblige since it was love at first sight.
Bettye and Harold were married in June of 1959 and moved to student housing in Starkville while Harold finished his doctorate. After Harold’s graduation they moved to Memphis and raised two children, Pamela Dawn, and Harold Ramsey Jr., and cats – lots and lots of cats.
Bettye’s house was always fun, always full. You never knew who would be at dinner. She was a wonderful cook and could make an ordinary day extraordinary with an old blanket for an impromptu picnic, or a tube of red food coloring for pink mashed potatoes, sheets on the line became a tent with just a few extra clothespins.
Bettye joins many loved ones in heaven, who are rejoicing that she is home! She leaves behind her daughter; Pamela Morrow (Greg) of Thompson’s Station, TN, her son Ramsey Bancroft (Patti) of Collierville, TN, her grandchildren, Keely Judson (William) of St. Petersburg, FL, Lucas Bancroft (Samantha) of Kossuth, MS, step grandchildren Chris Hawk (Hollie) of Pensacola, FL, and Elizabeth Hawk of Collierville, TN. Bettye also has three great grand children who are too young to know what they missed!
She will be sorely missed by her brother, Jimmy McCaskill, and her sisters-in-law, Laura McCaskill, Louise McCaskill and Martha Bancroft, along with countless nieces and nephews and cousins.
In Bettye’s memory donations may be made to House of Mews in Memphis, TN. www.paypal.me/thehouseofmews or checks may be mailed to: House of Mews 933 S Cooper St
Memphis, Tennessee 38104
A service will be held at a later date in Vicksburg, MS.
