Born in Greenwood County, she was the daughter of the late Walter Daniel and Juliaette Walker Watkins. She was a member of the Ware Shoals High School graduating class of 1949 - the “49’ers” - the school’s first class to complete 12 grades. A member of Ware Shoals First Baptist Church for 84 years, she was the oldest, longest-living member of the congregation . As a pillar of the church, she was an excellent servant in several positions. Her love for children and her joyful heart served her well as she worked in the Sunday School Department. For more than 53 years, she was a teacher and pianist in the preschool department, and as secretary for the preschool /children’s department, she kept the attendance records. For the last 8 years, she assisted in the Sunday School Department, entering weekly attendance for all classes. She filled each role with love and dedication.
As a member and chairman of the Ware Shoals Welfare Committee for many years, she was proud to assist citizens of Ware Shoals in need of assistance. She continued to show devotion to her community by delivering Meals on Wheels for many years to the senior citizens of Ware Shoals.
She retired from Gasque’s West End Auto Supply Store with 34 years of service, having served as bookkeeper, clerk and “entertainment director”. Customers loved to come in just to talk, laugh and “cut-up” with Betty. She knew where to locate every part in the store, as well as what and how many of an item a customer would need. No one could do it better. She later assisted her son and daughter-in-law as bookkeeper for The Observer and, along with her husband, Howard - and in the early years, a carload of grandchildren - delivered newspapers each week to area stores.
After losing her husband and 2 children, she was thankful to be cared for by her loving grandchildren and daughter-in-law, wonderful caregivers - Barbara, Crystal, and Pam; dedicated Hospice nurses/aide- Tracie, Whitney and Tiffany; her faithful neighbors - Meme, Vee, Ernest and Linda, and Gwen, and all her beloved friends who called daily to check on her.
Surviving are four grandsons, Will D. Hudgens (Jill), Nathan H. Hudgens, Lance B. Hudgens (Lindsey), and Cal Branyon, all of Ware Shoals; two granddaughters, Anna Beth Hudgens Gillis (John) of Ware Shoals and Betty Ann Branyon McCullough (Travis) of Donalds; a daughter-in-law, Faye Cooper Branyon of Ware Shoals; 13 great-grandchildren, Christian, Mollie Kate, Benjamin, Audrey, Amaris, Cooper, Harper, Tori, Zack, Emmy, Wylie, Tate, and Sidda. They all were the light of her life.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her son, Stephen Daniel Branyon; her daughter, Deborah Jean Branyon Hudgens; her son-in-law, Billy H. Hudgens; two brothers Lowell W. Watkins and Wylie Y. Watkins and a great-grandson, Tucker Cole Gillis.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at Ware Shoals First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Dr. Floyd Parker officiating. Burial will follow in Oakbrook Memorial Park in Hodges.
The family will receive friends at Ware Shoals First Baptist Church from 1-2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Ware Shoals First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 449, Ware Shoals, SC 29692 or Hospice & Palliative Care of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646. Online condolences may be made at www.ParkerWhitePruitt.com.