Betty Farris Gilmer

Betty Ruth Farris Gilmer was born January 3, 1933 in Yancey, Kentucky. She was the second eldest of five children born to Banks and Ethel Farris. She was married to Dr. Joseph Franklin Gilmer for 33 years until his death January 13, 1989. Betty was an extremely bright and full spirited woman who enjoyed her role as mother to Kelly Gilmer Arnold (James) Hilton Head, South Carolina, Kathryn (Kate) Gilmer Phillips (John), and Joseph Franklin Gilmer, Jr. (Birmingham, Alabama), however it was her love for her three grandchildren, John Robert Phillips IV, Madeline Gilmer Phillips (Birmingham, AL) and Elizabeth Farris Langley (Charleston, SC) that was beyond measure. She enjoyed every minute of her time being their grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and sister Stephanie Farris Little. She is survived by siblings Jane Farris Johnson, Banks Harry Farris (Birmingham, Alabama) and Leara Farris Miles (Dallas Texas) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Betty worked at Southern Natural Gas until retiring to raise her children and returned to the work force as an empty nester to work at Alabama Power Company, and later the Christian Service Mission. She was an active person who remained young at heart her entire life. She enjoyed travel, cooking, theatre, but her true passion was music.

Betty was born with a God given talent to play the piano. She shared her talent tirelessly with anyone asking her to play. She played the piano for the Junior League Choral Group, Woodlawn Baptist Church, Argo Presbyterian Church, countless weddings, receptions, and other musical events. Most recently she gave daily concerts at Towne Village Retirement Home in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.

In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to remember her may do so by performing an act of kindness to someone in need. Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 28th from 10am - 11am at Liberty Park Baptist Church. Services will follow at 11am with burial immediately after at Forest Hill Cemetery.