Betty J. Washington

Betty Joyce Martin Washington of Port Arthur, Texas died at St. Elizabeth Hospital on October 28, 2011. She was a native of Port Arthur for 77 years. Betty was born to the late Howard and Sylvia Martin.

She was a faithful, lifetime member of Sacred Heart/ St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Council #32 for over 50 years, Eucharistic Ministers, Bereavement Committee, past member of the Parish Council, Money Counter, Mardi Gras Group and a member of the Golden Age Club.

Betty was a 1954 graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1958 from Prairie View A&M University and also attended Graduate School at Prairie View. She began her teaching career at Lincoln High School and later worked at Lamar Vocational Center and Stillwell Technical Center for many years until she retired in 2001.

Betty was also a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, National Association of Port Arthurans, PAISD Retired Teachers Association, and a member of the TEEA- Meatra Club. She was also awarded Teacher of the Year with PAISD.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Sylvia Martin and her husband Gus Washington Sr.

She leaves to cherish her memories with her two sons; Gus Washington Jr. of Port Arthur, Texas and Kevin Washington (Pamela) of Manassas Park, Virginia; one daughter, Cassandra Washington Johnson (Craig) of Houston, Texas; two grandsons, Mark Kristian Washington and Brayden Javon Johnson; three sisters, Delores Esprit (Lee) of Xenia, Ohio, Geneva Martin (Nelson) of Los Angeles, California and Verlis Clark (Curtis) of Port Arthur, Texas; one brother, Alfred Martin Sr. (Lois) of Port Arthur, Texas; brother-in-law, Herman Washington of Port Arthur, Texas; three sisters-in-law, Hilda Sam of St. Martinville, Louisiana, Gladys Simmons of Galveston, Texas and Cecilla Gregg of Hitchcock, Texas and a host of nieces, nephews, god children and relatives.

Visitation will be from 8:00- 10:00 am on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at Sacred Heart/St. Mary’s Catholic Church., Funeral services will follow at 10:00 am. Interment will be at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Arrangements Entrusted to Gabriel Funeral Home.

For those who knew Betty, she loved life and always made those around her feel loved. She will be missed by those who lives she touched in her very special way.