Lt. Col. Betty Jane Laity

Born in Memphis, Tennessee during the height of the Great Depression, Betty C. Laity fell in love with The Salvation Army at the Memphis Southside Corps. Her mother, Marie Murphy, made sure that attendance at all Corps activities was regular and weekly.

Surrendering her life to Jesus at an early age, she entered the School for Officer Training in Atlanta in September 1951 and was commissioned a year later as a member of the Intercessors Session. She served as a single officer in Galveston, Texas; Sand Springs and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She fell in love and was married to W. Edward Laity in September 1954.

Together they served faithfully in Corps appointments in Texas and Georgia, at the School for Officers Training in Atlanta and Mexico City, Divisional Headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, Charlotte, North Carolina, Baltimore Maryland and Jackson, Mississippi. Appointments at Territorial Headquarters in Atlanta included the first ever Territorial Corps Cadet Counsel and then Director of Overseas Personnel Services.

Mrs. Laity had a passion for women’s ministries and programming including Home League and many other activities directed toward young mothers, working mothers and seniors. She enjoyed sewing, needlepoint, the Falcons and the Braves. She was a Biblical example of a strong woman, full of character and admired by those around her. She touched the lives of hundreds of men and women across the South through her prayers, mentoring and counselling.

Mrs. Laity is survived by her husband of 63 years, Lt. Colonel W. Edward Laity, three children, son, Wm. Edward Laity, Jr and daughter in law, Deborah Bennett Laity; son, David Wayne Laity and daughter in law, Gail Miller Laity; daughter, Kathryn Laity; sister, Joyce M. Beasley; brother, Luther Murphy and four grandchildren, Jamie Elizabeth, Kellie Marie, Jacob Ryan, Joseph Brice and her favorite doggie Sami.

Her services will be held at 10:00 am, Monday August 20th at The Atlanta Salvation Army Temple Corp with burial at Westview Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Sunday August 19th at The Atlanta Temple Corp. A. S. Turner & Sons