Betty Jo White

Betty Creel White, known as "Bet" to her friends, "Mother" to her children, and "BJ" to everyone else, went to her heavenly home with Jesus on November 12, 2021. She joined her husband, Curtis White, her parents, John and Mary Creel, her sisters, Elizabeth Creel, Velma Abbott, and Billie Musgrove, and her great granddaughter, Madison White, early that morning before the sun rose. Born in 1931 in Helena, Alabama, she would have been 90 this November 24th. She loved the community of Leeds, Alabama, where she and Curtis lived and raised their family, her beloved church, St Theresa's Catholic Church of Leeds, its congregation; and most importantly, she loved her family, dear friends, and all people. She was known for her faith and fervent prayers, her acts of kindness, flair for life, love of entertaining, words of wisdom, and her infectious presence and laugh. She was a collector of hearts. She loved the outdoors and adventures. She would say things like "the trip isn't going to plan itself, you've got to plan to do it or it will never happen" and she was the ultimate trip planner. She was a vivid story teller, never left out a detail, and never forgot a thing. You knew this because she probably told you the same story five times. But, she wasn't repeating herself because she forgot she already told you, it was so that you would remember. And every story she told was in parables with lessons that will be taught for generations to come. She knew that conversations were where life happened, where we connected, built relationships, fellowshipped, and supported each other. She knew that extra twenty minutes she talked to you after you said "Bye, BJ. I love you." wasn't going to ruin your day, and in fact some ways made it better. And she would want us to find peace in knowing that "our bird brain minds aren't supposed to understand everything. We walk by faith, not by sight." Maybe you shared a memory. Maybe you shared a "cold beer". Maybe she loved your child like her own grandchild or maybe you were one of the children she went to the school to read a book to years ago. Maybe you swam in their pool or drank out of a styrofoam cup she'd washed 7 times. Maybe you loved telling her your good news because you'd always get an "Alright!" and a huge open armed hug. Maybe she sat with you in the hospital or brought you a meal when you were sick or overwhelmed. Maybe she slipped you a twenty or sent you home with some leftovers in a butter container. Maybe you shared a sunset cruise at Logan Martin on the pontoon. Maybe you went camping with them or played card games together. Maybe she hosted your baby shower at their house. Maybe she was your karaoke partner when "Delta Dawn" or "Cotton Fields" was in the queue. Maybe you were one of the ones she prayed for and you knew it since she said all of her prayers "to herself" actually out loud. Maybe she taught you to make cornbread in her kitchen. Maybe you sat at that same kitchen counter or the back porch and got sage advice on life, marriage, parenting, budgets, or how to love on people better or feel the love of God every day. Maybe you never met her at all, but you got a card simply signed "God Bless" in your mailbox because she had this way of knowing who needed to be loved on even when she didn't know them herself. Whoever you are, Betty White was somebody who made everyone feel like a somebody. May her memory be a blessing to all who knew her. And may her way of life, the literal way she lived every day, be a model of the hands and feet of Jesus walking here with us. Her wish for her own life was summed up in her favorite quote by Erma Bombeck: "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'." When she met Jesus that foggy Friday morning, the denseness of the air felt almost as if God sent a little bit of Heaven down to get her. I imagine when she saw Him, He looked at her and said, "Job well done, good and faithful servant. Job well done. You used it all." Her legacy lives on in her children, Mike White (Walter), Jan White Stone (Joel), Joe White (Cathy), and Jimmy White. Her grandchildren, Josh Stone (Julie), Shandi White, Cameron White (Shea), Jamie Stone (Corey), Erin White Mathews (James), Katie White McLaughlin (Grant), Stephanie White Mann (Eric), Rachael White Arledge (Daniel), Michael White (Ashley), and Adam White. Her great grandchildren, Alex Nickell, Kaitlyn Nickell, Emma White, Taylor Mathews, Anderson Mathews, Cash Mann, Jack McLaughlin, Emma Sue Stone, Everleigh Mann, Rocky Stone, Luke McLaughlin, Cohen Mann, Eli Stone, Teddy Stone, Evelyn Mathews, Nellie Stone, Gideon Arledge, Charlotte White, Kenedi Arledge, Madison White (resting with Jesus), and Emily McLaughlin. In addition to her children, grand and great grandchildren, and her only remaining sister, Mary John Jones, there are dozens more nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will also help carry her memory. Her services will be held at St Theresa's Catholic Church in Leeds, Alabama, on November 16th where the visitation will be at 9am & Memorial Mass at 11am, followed by burial at Forest Crest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations instead be made in her memory to the Leeds Outreach Program.