Betty Jane Wilkins

Betty Jane Clewis Wilkins, age 88, passed away Friday December 12, 2014, at home at Clairmont Place, Decatur, GA. She was born on May 7, 1926 in Grapeland, Texas to Lillian McMurrey Clewis and Arnold Stephen Clewis. She graduated from Grapeland High School and then went on to earn a BBA from Sam Houston State University in 1946. She worked for the State of Texas Department of Education, taught high school business courses, and then went to work for Humble Oil Company, the predecessor of Exxon, in Baytown, Texas. It was there that she met Monty Wilkins and they were married on October 8, 1955. They settled in Toccoa, Georgia for several years until relocating to Port Arthur, Texas where they would live for over 20 years with one brief relocation to Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1981, the family was transferred to Atlanta, GA. They settled in Peachtree Corners and Betty remained there after Monty's death until moving to Clairmont Place in Decatur, GA in 2008. Betty was a tireless volunteer during her lifetime for all her children's activities, including serving on numerous PTA boards and leading a Camp Fire Girls group. She faithfully served her church by holding positions of leadership throughout her life. Betty volunteered in her later years as a Meals on Wheels volunteer and at the Norcross Cooperative Ministry Food Pantry. Family was always Betty's priority and her focus. Her grandchildren were the absolute delight of her life and she enjoyed every minute she spent with them. Next to family, Betty was die-hard Texan to the end and never missed an opportunity to tell anyone about the great state of her birth.
A Celebration of Betty's life is planned for Friday, December 19 at 10:00 am at Glenn Memorial UMC's Little Chapel. The family will receive visitors at 9 am in the church parlor. A graveside service will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Gaffney, SC.
Survivors include son, Monty Wilkins and wife Harriet of Lafayette, Louisiana; daughter, Kathy Brockman and husband Bard of Atlanta; and daughter, Beth Sisler and husband Matt of Mt. Pleasant, SC. Her grandchildren include Andrew and Maria Wilkins of Lafayette, LA; Ben and Jonathon Brockman of Atlanta, GA; and Lauren and Trey Mathewes of Mt. Pleasant, SC. She is also survived by several cousins living in Texas who knew her affectionately as Betty Jane.

The family extends deepest gratitude to Betty's tireless caregiver, Darlene Kemp Sims. Darlene took great care of Betty during the last 4 years of her life. Other caregivers include Kudirat Adewale, Helen Sims, Charlene Sims and others. Gratitude is also expressed to Hospice Atlanta for their support over the last month.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Betty's name to:

Senior Connections
c/o Donations, Senior Connections, 5238 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30341
http://www.seniorconnectionsatl.org/donate.html
Indicate In Memory of Betty Wilkins in Comments section


Alzheimer's AssociationP.O. Box 96011Washington, DC 20090-6011
http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions;jsessionid=41C231EFB0158CABF2807CBB753052A4.app201a?pg=fundandfr_id=1060andpxfid=253601

Funeral Home:
A.S. Turner
2773 N. Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033