Linda Betty Sue Wood Witt was born in Itawamba County, Mississippi on August 23, 1937, to parents, Ellie Mayhall Wood and Jesse Tulon Wood. She was the fifth child of a group of thirteen. She was the first in her family to graduate and did so proudly in 1956 from Belmont High School.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents: Ellie Mayhall Wood and Jesse Tulon Wood; brothers: Melvin Wood, James Wood, Joe Bob Wood, and David Wood; sisters: Evelyn Burton, Maxine Mabus, Eloise Halstead, and Patty Ann Collum.
She is survived by her beloved husband of sixty-six years, Glen Witt: children: Kim Lucas (Tommy), Todd Witt (Tami), and Brad Witt (Lori); grandchildren: Jade Lucas Bennet (Jim), Witt Lucas (Linda), Lindee Witt Payne (Jon Morgan), Tucker Witt, Blake McNabb (Lindsay), Devin Shidler, Grayson Witt, and Greta Witt.
Betty Sue married the love of her life, Glen, on September 20, 1957, in Zion, Illinois. Betty loved to tell the story of the first time she saw Glen sitting on a Coke crate at Red Skinner’s Service Station in Belmont. She told her children that he was so handsome and reminded her of her favorite movie star. Later, Betty and Glen officially met at Pop Yancey’s Drugstore in Red Bay where she worked as a waitress; it was a true love story. They were soulmates and best friends. They loved to travel and visited 48 of the 50 states together. Not sure which they enjoyed more, the actual trips, or telling stories throughout the years. They loved spending time camping and skiing at the river. Betty was an avid skier and was known to cut a 360 on a wave runner, even in the ocean, which didn’t go so well. To Glen’s dismay, Betty Sue insisted on taking square dancing lessons, but to his surprise he enjoyed it. There, they made lifelong friends.
In 1958, Betty and Glen had their first child, who they lovingly called “Kimmie”, then along came “Toddie”, and finally their baby, “Bradley D”. Their home was a place where friends and family always felt welcome. Betty loved her children’s friends like they were her own. She was a very loving mother who always put her children first. She was their biggest fan. Betty Sue would fight a grizzly bear, bare-handed for them.
Betty was a hard worker and had many jobs throughout her life. She was an IBM operator for Abbot Laboratories and later Outboard Marine. She was also a waitress, but disliked it almost as much as picking cotton. Betty was most proud of managing and developing their own business, Witt Auto Sales.
Betty loved music of all genres, but country music fit her personality best. She especially loved it when Witt played her favorite tunes. Betty loved to dance and shared her love of music with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Family meant a lot to Betty, coming from a family of thirteen. She was delighted when brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews came to Aunt Betty Sue’s for the holidays, where there was an abundance of talking and loads of laughter. When her grandchildren came along it was on! Her oldest grandchild, Jade, made sure everyone knew that her “Grammie” was the boss of the entire family. Grammie loved driving the grands in her little yellow convertible. She shared her love of the water with her grandchildren, whether late-night swimming with Lindee, or taking Grayson and Tucker to the Red Bay Waterpark. The grandkids said she made the best chocolate gravy, French toast, and hot fudge. Grammie would sneak black coffee to little Greta. Boy did Grammie love her coffee!
Betty was blessed with friends from everywhere, she never met a stranger. She always saw the best in others and had a compliment to share. Betty Sue loved hanging out at the family Dixie Queen, she had a standing appointment at 2:00.
Most importantly, Betty was a Christian who was a member of Belmont Methodist Church and loved visiting Golden Methodist Church. She made sure that her children knew how to pray and understand that Jesus was always with them.
Betty was a beautiful woman who never knew her own gifts. She was a vibrant woman with a huge personality, she was kind to a fault. Betty lit up a room and made everyone around her feel better about themselves. Betty Sue lived life to the fullest. She advised others not to take life too seriously, and to have fun wherever you are!
Betty would want to thank everyone for coming today and remind them to think of her often, remember the good times, and retell the stories she loved.
On that note, we are sharing a favorite Betty Sue Story. Betty Sue tells Glen, “Put on your coat”, Glen replies, “Are we going somewhere, or am I cold?”.
Services will be Wednesday, November 1, 4 p.m. at Deaton Funeral Home Chapel, Belmont, MS with Bro. Robert Wood officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery, Golden, MS. Deaton Funeral Home, Belmont, MS will be in charge of arrangements.
Pallbearers will be Witt Lucas, Grayson Witt, Tucker Witt, Jim Bennett, Jon Morgan Payne, Joey Cote, Donnie Wood, Jason Witt and Danny Wood.
Visitation will be Wednesday, November 1, 2-4 p.m. at Deaton Funeral Home, Belmont, MS.
