Betty Betts Conner
Betty Betts Conner died October 19, 2023, in Madison, Mississippi, surrounded by her family.
The only child of Nell and Cecil Betts, she was born on January 24, 1932, in Concord, NC. She was a 1950 graduate of Clift High School in Opelika, AL, and was the first in her family to attend college, earning her B.A. in Biology in 1954 from Huntingdon College, Montgomery, AL.
While at Huntingdon, Betty served as president of her freshman and junior classes. She was elected student body president her senior year, and was selected for inclusion in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. After graduating, Betty attended the School of Medical Technology of Charity Hospital in New Orleans, LA, and finished in 1955 as a registered medical technician. Betty was an active and faithful communicant of St. James’ Episcopal Church for over 50 years, where she served as a member of the altar guild, vestry, parish choir, and as a lay reader.
She was a graduate and mentor of Education for Ministry, and attended Episcopal Cursillo no. 10 in Chatawa, MS, serving on staff several times afterward. She was president of the Jackson Council PTA from 1973-1975, and served as parenting chairman of the Mississippi Congress of Parents & Teachers. She was a Girl Scout troop leader several times over, and served on the Middle Mississippi Girl Scout Council as well as on the board of the YWCA. Betty also served as president of the parent association at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Jackson.
In 1982, Betty enrolled at Millsaps College to complete requirements for teacher certification, and thus began a long career in elementary education. She was a longtime member of the Lower School faculty at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. In 1987, her tenure at St. Andrew’s was interrupted briefly by a 3-year stint in Augsburg, Germany, where the Conners lived while Weir served as Developmental Pediatrician and Chief of the Exceptional Family Member Service at the U.S. Army 34th General Hospital.
Betty joined the staff at Augsburg American Elementary School. Betty returned to work at St. Andrew’s, teaching second grade and, ultimately, kindergarten before retiring in May of 2000. She was also affiliated with the Mississippi Watercolor Society and the Jackson Watercolor Group, winning several prizes for her paintings.
Betty was a charter member of the Reases Book Club.
She was preceded in death by her father, Cecil Lee Betts; mother, Nell Lynch Betts; brother in-law, The Rt. Rev. Dr. George W. Conner; and her granddaughter, Rue Casey.
She is survived by her husband, Weir, and their daughters, Amy Conner, Erin Fischer (Michael), Maggie Wender (David), and Kathleen Strickland (Jim); grandchildren Fionn Casey (Melanie), Hayley Fitzgerald (Ryan), Conner Reeves (Erica), Mollie Oller (Josh), Sarah Jane Strickland, and Ivey Strickland; and great-grandchildren Audrey Marrero, Alina Ward, Margot Reeves, Nell Reeves, and Betts Oller.
Services will be held Friday, November 24, at St. James’ Episcopal Church, Jackson, with visitation at 2:00 and a memorial service at 3:00. Interment will follow immediately at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. James’ Episcopal Church Outreach Fund, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, or Stewpot Community Services.