Betty Speer Boland, age 97, died September 27, 2023. She was born in Gainesville, Florida to the late Herbert Lawson Speer and Martha Florede Harris Speer, and is the widow of Ernest Pope Boland. She attended schools in Canal Point and Pahokee, Florida, graduating from Pahokee High School as Valedictorian, and graduated from Florida State College for Women in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, with membership in Phi Kappa Phi honor society and Gamma Sigma Epsilon chemical fraternity.
Betty completed her education with medical training at the Medical Technology School at Charity Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana in 1948. After her training, she worked as a Registered Medical Technologist in the Athens General Hospital Laboratory, Athens, Georgia. She later served as Vice President of the family business, Boland Bonded Pest Control, Inc., Alps Road School PTA President, Treasurer Cabineers Home Demonstration Club, Brownie and Girl Scout Leader and Girl Scout Camp Counselor, and volunteered with the Bulldog Bridle 4-H Club and chaperone for the Cedar Shoals High School Chorale.
Betty was a charter member of Beech Haven Baptist Church, Athens, Georgia, where she served on the Constitution and Revision Committees, Women’s Missionary Union President, Christian Concern Committee, Finance Committee, Search Committee, Superintendent of the Junior Sunday School Department, Sunday School Teacher for Adult Women, Christian Financial Concepts Counselor, and was previously a member of First Baptist Church, Athens, Georgia, and Baptist churches in Pahokee and Canal Point, Florida.
Betty’s legacy was her heart’s desire: that all of her children and grandchildren would love the Lord and serve Him with their lives. She used her many gifts for her family, her church family and community, always ready to give help in any way that she could.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” –Jeremiah 31:3
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” –Ephesians 2:8
She is preceded in death by her husband Ernest Pope Boland; and her son, Barry Andrew Boland; and is survived by her daughter, Martha Beth Boland Holland (William Thomas); sons: Thomas Raymond Ernest Boland (Elizabeth Morgan), Robert Earl Boland (Virginia Ojeda), Michael Scott Boland (Jennifer Huggins); and grandchildren: Jennifer Rachel Holland Smith (Jacob Aaron), Kathryn Anne Holland, Elizabeth Alden Boland, Ethan Thomas Boland, Noah Michael Boland, Thomas Raymond Boland, Jr., Robert Earl Bradley Boland. Jr., Zachary David Boland, Adreanna Alix Boland, Victor Anthony Boland, Avery Elisabeth Boland, Keller Joseph Boland, Graham Thomas Boland, Lincoln Michael Boland; and great-granddaughters: Abigail Grace Smith and Elianna Evelyn Smith.
Bernstein’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
There will be a family only graveside service in Columbus, Georgia. Interment will be at Parkhill Cemetery, Columbus, Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Beech Haven Baptist Church, 2390 West Broad Street, Athens, Georgia 30606.
