Betty Lee Bodie Knotts, age 77, of West Columbia, SC sadly passed away on Monday, February 26, 2024 at approximately 5:00 AM. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother. Betty also had many friends and was a well-loved member of the Lexington County community.
Born September 1, 1946, to the late Harold Lee Bodie and Annie Mae Hinson (Columbia). As a freshman, in 1962, she began dating her high school sweetheart, John Milton “Jake” Knotts, Jr., at Brookland-Cayce High School and graduated in 1965. Then, on October 15th, 1965, they married and planned their future together which has lasted over 59 years. Jake and Betty always celebrated their wedding anniversary and were planning to celebrate their 60th anniversary in Key West, where it is always 5:00 somewhere.
Mrs. Knotts worked for the South Carolina Highway Department from 1968 to 1983. Then, she owned and operated Jake’s Party Shop from 1983 to 1995. In 1988 to present, she and her husband owned and operated Knotts Process Service.
Betty was an avid sports fan. She enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves, but she never missed an opportunity to watch her favorite football coach, Nick Saban, of Alabama. Betty loved animals and throughout the years had many dogs: Picka, Pooh, Boom-Boom, Rocky, Allie Cat. However, Chaka, a Doberman Pincher, was by far the one who stole her heart, and she stole his. She loved cats; rather strays dropped off at the cemetery next door or adopted, such as Winston, Pepper, Tuffy, One-Eye and Snow. She took care and loved them all.
Betty was predeceased by her father, Harold Lee Bodie (Wagener), mother, Annie Mae Hinson Peake (Cayce), step-father, Frank Peake (Cayce), sister, Shirley Bodie Sasser (Cayce), brother John Larry Bodie, Sr. (Cayce).
She is survived by her devoted loving husband, Retired Senator John Milton “Jake” Knotts, Jr. (West Columbia), daughter, Michelle Nicole “Nikki” Rodgers, husband, Robert Walter Rodgers (Lexington), daughter Tara Knotts Arnett, husband, Kristopher William Arnett (Pelion) grandchildren, Kaitlyn Grigsby Clarke, husband, Samuel “Sam” Henry Clarke (Wagener), John Robert Rodgers (Lexington), Michael Jake Grigsby (Columbia). Other surviving family members are former son-in-law, Michael Wayne Grigsby (Lexington), nephew/brother, Donald Victor Jones, wife Freda Jones (Southport, NC), niece, Laduska “Dusty” Bodie Busher, husband, John Jeffery Busher with children, MaKenna and Laken (Pelion), nephews, John Larry “Bozie” Bodie, Jr., Bryan Knotts (Joy), Britton Knotts (Ashley); cousins, Skeeter Hinson (N. Myrtle Beach), Myra Hinson Rogers, husband, Joe Rogers (N. Myrtle Beach), Wayne Hinson (Camden), Johnny and Charles Dowey (Tookie Doo, SC), her fur baby, a miniature pincher, Allie.
On Saturday, March 2, 2024, please join us with Pastor Tim Sieberhagen to celebrate her life and legacy at Kittiwake Baptist Church, 420 Kittiwake Drive, West Columbia, SC. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM. Funeral Service immediately following at 2:30 PM. Her final resting place will be at Southland Memorial Gardens, 700 W Dunbar Rd, West Columbia, SC.
Help us remember Mrs. Betty Knotts by visiting her memorial at www.caughmansouthland.com Through this site, you can view cherished photos and videos, add a memory, and share the obituary with others via social media and email. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor at Pawmetto Lifeline at www.pawmettolifeline.org
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