Betty Cathryn Johnson Adams, 87, of Greenville passed away on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at her home surrounded by family.
Visitation will be from 5-7pm on Friday, October 29, 2021 at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home in Greenville. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Greenville with Brother Yost officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Shady Grove Cemetery in Greenville.
She was born in Merit, TX on November 6, 1933. The daughter of Jesse D. Johnson and Weldon Parker Johnson.
Betty was a homemaker until she began working for Greenville Independent School District in 1972. She loved her job as a secretary for Bowie Elementary and Greenville High School. Ms. Betty retired at 80 years old after 42+ years with the Greenville Independent School District. She loved her job! The teachers, staff, and students always brought smiles to her face and brightened her day. She has been an active board member of Farmers Electric Co-op for the past 39+ years. She was also a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Greenville. She loved everyone and was loved by everyone.
Betty had many hobbies. She loved to garden, canning, craft with her daughters, volunteer at the Cotton Museum, and she loved finding treasures at estate sales. She was an avid collector of cookbooks and recipes. She volunteered as a 4-H leader, helped her kids with showing animals, and was a staple at the Hunt County Fair pig show for many years. She stayed active supporting her kids and grandkids during FFA activities and rarely missed their sporting events. Some of her fondest memories are of the concession stand and selling tickets at GHS home events.
She was a strong, faithful woman who never met a stranger. She loved to share stories of her family, church, work and growing up picking cotton on the family farm. Betty cherished every moment with family and ended every conversation with “Love You Bunches”.
She is survived by her daughter, Judy Ann Allen of Greenville, TX; daughters and sons-in-law, Becky and Clayton Smoot of Paris, and Billie Lynn and Brad Abell of Mount Vernon; daughter-in-law Jerri Adams LeClair of Chapel Hill, TN; grandchildren, Jennifer Adams Hannah (Glenn) of Chapel Hill, TN, Mandie Carson of Charleston, SC, Kate Walker (Chance of Hendersonville, TN, Brittany Preas (Joe) of Greenville, TX, Brooke Foley of Greenville, TX, Marc Smoot (Brianna) of Paris, TX, Adam Smoot of Paris, TX, Trent Hemphill (Brianna) of Jonesboro, AR, and Bailey Abell of Mount Vernon, TX; great-grandchildren Madi Grace Hannah of Chapel Hill, TN, Cameron Smiley of Charleston, SC, Nash Carson of Nashville, TX, Noah Walker of Nashville, TN, Nevin Walker of Nashville, TN, Brayden Morris of Greenville, TX, Canter Preas of Greenville, TX and Tatum Hemphill of Jonesboro, AR; sister Fan Ellen Jackson of Colorado Spring, CO, brother-in-law, William E. Daniel of Merit, TX and several other nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, the father of her children Billie Ray Adams, son Marc Ray Adams, granddaughter Lt. Holly Lea Adams, sisters Mary Ann Barnard (Dan) and Glenda Sue Daniel, and brother-in-law Lt. Col. Jerry Jackson.
Pallbearers will be Marc Smoot, Adam Smoot, Trent Hemphill, Brayden Morris, Glenn Hannah, and Joe Preas. Honorary pallbearers will be Clayton Smoot and Brad Abell.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to the Greenville High School Solar Car Team, c/o Joel Pitts, 3515 Lions Lair Rd., Greenville, TX 75402.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Heart-to-Heart Hospice, Greenville Health and Rehab, Hunt Regional Hospital doctors and nursing staff, and the many family and friends who sent prayers, love and condolences to our family.