Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Knowles

Mrs. Betty Knowles passed into the arms of her Savior on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 after an extended illness. She was born Mary Elizabeth Cornwell on March 11, 1925 to Wilford Brian Cornwell and Lillian Ledford Cornwell in Tullahoma, Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Benjamin B. Knowles, as well as her daughter, Nancy Lou Knowles Davies (Sam).

Betty attended Brenau College for two years, and then headed to New York City to study dance and modeling. While in New York, she met Ben Knowles and they were married on September 1, 1946 in Tullahoma. She and Ben settled in Montgomery, Alabama and raised three children.

Betty was a faithful member of St. James Methodist Church in Montgomery and was blessed to be able to serve her faith family in many significant ways. One of her favorite ministries was visiting the St. James members living in various nursing facilities. After moving to Birmingham, Alabama, she was a member of Bluff Park Methodist Church.

Betty is survived by her daughter, Betty Bryan Knowles Warren (Jim) of Birmingham; one son, Benjamin Brown Knowles Ill of Humble, Texas; and grandchildren, Jamie Warren (Julie) of Birmingham, Emily Warren Voelkert (Ryan) of Greenville, South Carolina, Heather Elizabeth Davies Pinkham (Phil) of Birmingham, Sarah Elizabeth Knowles of Dallas, Texas, and Benjamin John Knowles (Shino) of Dallas. Betty is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Jackson Bryan Warren of Birmingham, Jonathan Hall Warren of Birmingham, Joel Christopher Warren of Birmingham, Emma Katherine Voelkert of Greenville, James Frederick Voelkert of Greenville, Meredith Aiken Voelkert of Greenville, Sam Hacker Pinkham and Mary Frances Pinkham of Birmingham, John Akira Knowles, and Noah Kai Knowles of Dallas.

We are extremely grateful for the patience and love extended to Mother by Comfort Care Hospice during her final days. Thanks also to her caregivers who spent every day and night caring for her and giving her the blessing of remaining in her home through her aging years. There are no words to adequately convey our love for each one of you.

The graveside service for Betty Knowles will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 20, 2023 at Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama.