Betty Jean Grant

Betty Jean Latham Grant of Memphis, Tennessee, passed safely into the loving arms of her Savior on Sunday morning, January 13 at the Kirby Pines Estates Manor in Memphis, Tennessee after a long hard fought battle with dementia. Her life’s journey has ended and a joyous eternal one has begun. Funeral services will be held at First Assembly, 8650 Walnut Grove in Cordova on Wednesday, January 16 with viewing and family visitation beginning at 11:30 am and a memorial service in the chapel at 1:30 pm.

Betty, a resident of Kirby Pines Estates, is survived by her husband of 58 years, Warren S. Grant of Memphis, two daughters, Jeanne Ruth Hamilton (Steve) of Collierville Tennessee, Candyce Jill McEwen (Perry) of Arlington, Tennessee and one son, Warren Scott Grant II (Kasey) of Chelsea, Alabama. There are nine beautiful grandchildren, Ryan Hamilton (Kara) of Birmingham Al, Matthew McEwen (Courtney) of Memphis, Tennessee, Brett Hamilton of Collierville, Andrew, Brandon, Jillian McEwen of Arlington, and Riley, Fletcher and Gavin Grant of Chelsea, Alabama. One great grandchild is on its way in Birmingham, Alabama. She was born to Leonard and Lela Latham in Dyersburg, Tennessee, March 24, 1932 and has one loving brother, Roger Latham of Counce, Tennessee. There are many nephews, nieces and in-laws, Don and Wanda Clark of Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Betty taught school for over forty years in Memphis, Tennessee; Sacramento and Stockton, California; Lewiston, Idaho; and Springfield, Missouri. Her last teaching assignment was her dream one, a reading specialist at Shannon Elementary in Memphis, Tennessee. Betty retired in 2002.

She graduated high school in Dyersburg, Tennessee in 1950, proudly attended Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas, and completed her degrees with honors from Sacramento State University, BA, in Sacramento, California and Drury University, MA, in Springfield, Missouri. She was named “Who’s Who Among American Teachers”. The “Who’s Who” award honors America’s most respected teachers and acknowledges their excellence as distinguished educators.

Her musical versatility included Betty playing violin and traveling with Southwestern’s orchestra during her first year at SAGU. During her second year she sang with the Harvester Choir directed by the gifted director, Leslie Stubbs. Following a morning chapel service featuring the nationally travelled Missionaries Quartet for Speed the Light, she met one of its members and later married him in Dyersburg, Tennessee.

Betty moved to Sacramento, California, in 1957; later to Lewiston, Idaho; Stockton, California; and Springfield, Missouri; returning to Memphis in 1975 where she has continued to live until her passing. She stood by her pastor-husband serving in Lewiston and Stockton as the Director of Worship and Music. She introduced and directed their Singing Christmas Tree presentations, a concept founded in 1958 by a Sacramento church staff that included her husband. She recruited, planned, rehearsed and led both the choir and orchestra enjoyed by thousands in large venues at Christmas time.

She was a unique worship vocalist, pianist and organist. Her special soprano voice singing old familiar songs brought joy, tears and inspiration to many people over the years. “The Lily of the Valley, “What a Friend”. “He the Pearly Gates Will Open”, “Holy Ground” and others. She was the first soloist on First Assembly’s WHBQ-TV “Christ Is the Answer” television in 1956. BJ, as she was affectionally called, never forgot her home town, Dyersburg, Tennessee, and enjoyed being a southern girl.

The family will receive guests and friends on Wednesday, January 16 from 11:30 a.m. until funeral services begin at 1:30PM all at First Assembly Church, 8650 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova, TN 38108. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Memphis Funeral Home. Pastor Thomas Lindberg and Pastor Wesley Payne will conduct the service. Bob and Diane Geabhart will provide the music with Betty’s Maid of Honor, Betty Johnson, at the organ console. Internment at Memphis Memorial Park will immediately follow the memorial service at First Assembly.