Elizabeth Anne Bennison Whitney

On September 19th, Elizabeth Anne Whitney (Betty Anne) of Saint Simons Island, GA left us to reunite with her true love, Larned. She was in the loving arms of her four children. Larned and Betty Anne married in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City in 1961 and enjoyed 27 years of love, adventure and family. After 84 years of living passionately, Betty Anne departed after a brief illness. She died with dignity and an open heart, overlooking her beloved coastal marsh.

She was a wife to Larned Starkey Whitney Jr. “Larry”, who passed away in 1987. Betty Anne was an exceptional human being and a wonderful mother to: Tobin, Sam, Sarah and Palmer. In addition, she leaves eleven grandchildren: Oliver, Ben, Ned, Carly, Brad, Sadie, Madison, Chuck, Shepard, Tobin and Annie, who loved their Gammy very much. Son in laws Nathan Hagelin and Jeff Blanchard, daughter in law Sarah Marden Whitney and many nieces and nephews, will be forever in her circle.

Betty Anne was born in New York City and grew up as a traveling army brat. She was a teacher, a jitter bugger, a freedom fighter, a world traveler, a skier and a tennis champ. She was a devout Catholic and also dedicated many years as a faithful volunteer to the Red Cross and Literacy Volunteers of America. After over 30 years in New Britain, CT, she moved south to coastal Georgia and reinvented herself as a bookseller at G.J. Ford Bookshop. She sold her last book a week ago! Our family would like to thank the wonderful people of Saint Simons Island for enriching her life.

Family and friends will celebrate her life privately. There will be a mass of Christian Burial in Northfield, MA in the fall. In lieu of flowers and because of Betty Anne’s love of books, memorial gifts may be made to The Literary Guild of Saint Simons Island , PO Box 20822 Saint Simons Island, GA 31522. Happy Trails Betty Anne. Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.edomillerandsons.com