Obituary of Betty DeWitt

Betty Jo (Fox) DeWitt 86, went home to be with the Lord on January 12, 2012 after battling Alzheimer's since approximately 2000. Born in Birmingham, Alabama she lived much of her life there, very active with her husband and parents in the Inglenook United Methodist Church until her husband was transferred to Atlanta with GM in the early 60's and then to Jacksonville in 1965 where she became an early member and active volunteer at St. Paul United Methodist Church. GM transferred her family back to Birmingham in 1968 (Mountain Brook area), only to be transferred back to Jacksonville and her beloved St. Paul Methodist Church in 1973 where she and her husband eventually built their retirement home in the Hidden Hills Community. Betty continued her church activities teaching children's Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and was involved with her daughter-in-law, Priss, with the Crisis Care Ministry.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Charles W. DeWitt, in 2004, who also served at St. Paul, after which she retained her home in Jacksonville, but had to spend most of her time living with her oldest son's family, Steve, in metro Atlanta, until returning to her home in Jacksonville in January of 2011 where she continued to live with her oldest son and his family. She was unable to actively attend St. Paul upon return as she entered Hospice Care at her home in Jacksonville. Betty and family had made it back "home", to the home she recognized upon arrival, and where she recently passed peacefully in her sleep.

Betty was a godly woman who spent most of her life as a stay-at-home mom and wife devoted to raising her family in a loving Christian home and later taking care of her mother Hettie Fox for 13 years, also with Alzheimer's, after her father, Jasper Marion Fox, had passed away. Betty is survived by her 4 son's, (Steve, Wayne, Doug and Scott), their wives, (Priss, Linda, Dru and Laurie) and their families including 6 grandkids and their 2 spouses Todd, Ben (Jennifer), Daniel, (Mackenzie), Sarah, Michael, Megan, and 1 great grandson, Jackson, son of Ben and Jennifer. Mom and Dad always loved their son's wives as if they were their own daughters and the grandkids were a special blessing to them.

All of those providing care for Betty have considered it an honor and privilege to serve her and the Lord in this capacity. Special appreciation is given to her grandson Todd, who was invaluable to the family in her end of life care, where he put his accounting career on hold after graduation to keep his part time college job, that gave him time to live with his grandmother (Betty), his dad (Steve) and mom (Priss) constantly helping day in and day out in her care giving. Priss's mom, Fannie Brake, also lives with the family, and her help in caring for Betty daily is also deeply appreciated along with the entire Community Hospice team of caregivers. Betty's spirit was alive and well through the end, though her mind and body were failing. She made it a joy to help care for her.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, January 17, at St. Paul United Methodist Church,8264 Lone Star Road, Jacksonville, FL 32211, with Rev. Melissa Pisco officiating, followed by grave side services at Arlington Park, 6920 Lone Star Road. The family will receive friends at the Arlington Park Funeral Home on Monday, January 16 from 6pm to 8pm. Mom loved gardening and flowers and they will be much appreciated. However, in lieu of flowers, you may choose to honor Betty in a tribute/memorial with a donation to St. Paul United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer's Association at P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011 or online at ALZ.org, click donate now, or search for Betty's dedicated page, named "Betty DeWitt Memorial Fund".

Of special note is Betty's granddaughter, Sarah's, decision to forego a promising professional dance and theater career, and direct her efforts towards research on the brain, in part, motivated by her experiences with her grandfather, Dr. Buck Dorman, on her mother's side, and grandmother, Betty, on her father's side, having both battled Alzheimer's. She is currently on a full graduate fellowship working toward her PhD. in Neuroscience at Emory University. Betty was extremely proud of all her children's, and grandchildren's Christian character and accomplishments. Her legacy lives on in all of us.