Fletcher, Betty Jo Payne, much adored wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and
sister, passed away in Fayetteville, Ga on Wednesday, Feb 8, 2023, only 11
hours after the passing of her husband, Fred.
Betty was born July 11, 1930 in Atlanta, Ga, to the late William Harrison Payne
and Mary Addie Stephens Payne, both of Habersham County, Ga. She grew up
with two sisters, Emma Lou and Katherine. Betty attended Girl's High and
graduated from O'Keefe High School in Atlanta, where she was voted the
prettiest girl in the class.
At age 15, she met her best friend and love, Freddie Fletcher, in Sunday School
at the Baptist Tabernacle. From that first date, they were only apart when Fred
served in the US Navy. They married November 3, 1950 and began a life
together. Betty worked at Southern Bell until she gave birth to her daughters,
Jody and Dana, and from then on, worked as a devoted mama and homemaker.
Every prom dress was stitched by hand and each dinner had a homemade
dessert.
Betty loved her Sunday School friends at Clairmont Hills Baptist church. Her and
Fred often played cards, or traveled to the beach or the mountains to laugh and
perfect their skill at 'Continental' (a penny a point!) She always returned from a
church party with a hilarious story of getting locked in a bathroom or some other
antic.
One of Betty's favorite bible verses was John 20:29: "You believe because you
have seen me. But blessed are those who haven't seen me and believe anyway."
Betty's participation in their annual Christmas door competition led her to create
a sweet child sitting atop a roof, looking up into the Christmas sky, with this
verse underneath. She won first prize!
In her 60s, Betty picked up a brush and began painting with oils. Her remarkable
talent produced numerous landscapes, country churches for annual Christmas
cards, and yes, even some discreet nudes, because, according to her,
"Otherwise, you're just painting clothes!"
While she loved country music, collecting antiques, traveling, exercising and art,
her favorite love was her grandchildren. Pushing one of her four grands on the
backyard swingset was 'Heaven, pure heaven.'
Betty will be remembered for her gentle and sweet nature. Her rock solid
Christian faith led her through many personal trials where she never complained.
Her favorite saying was "It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and
not have it." Betty leaves a void in the hearts of her two daughters, Dana
Chitwood (Dirk), Jody Kitchen, grandchildren Beau Fulton (Sharilyn), Anna Kemp
(Ross), Alex Kitchen and Sarah Kitchen. She has nieces and nephews and many
loved friends. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to contribute to God's Eyes Inc,
https://godseyes.com/ Services will be Saturday Feb 11 at 11:00 a.m. at A.S.
Turner & Sons in Decatur, Arrangements by A.S. Turner & Sons
Saturday, February 11, 2023
11:00am - 12:00 pm (Eastern time)
A. S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home & Crematory
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