Bettie Horrell Johnson passed on in her sleep the afternoon of December 31, 2023 after a joyous Christmas with her daughter, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. She was born on March 16, 1925. While her life was long her absence leaves an indescribable void in the lives of those who loved her. She was preceded in death by her parents, William A. and Emma Graham Horrell, by her son, Stephen, by her sister, Patricia Horrell Loflin, and her brother, Willam A. Horrell, Jr.
Also preceding her in death was her husband, Walter Giles Johnson, Jr. whom she married on October 24, 1945, just a few months after Mr. Johnson was released from prisoner of war camp. They departed on a whirlwind honeymoon lasting more than a month which introduced her to Chicago, New York and the Homestead in West Virginia. In 1947 came the birth of Walter, III, followed by Stephen, Bettie Ruth and Charles.
Bettie is survived by her daughter, Bettie Ruth, who endures the loss of her mother and best friend. She is also survived by her sons, Walter, III, and Charles and by her sisters, Ruth Horrell Allen, Mary Grace Horrell Brown, and Emma Lou Horrell.
Because her husband was an avid golfer, Bettie took up the game in the 1950's and 1960's. But her real love was her membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution, engendered by her love for our country and the Constitution. Her journey with the DAR began in 1956 when she joined as a junior member. Through the next decades, she served in various capacities including, chapter regent of Ralph Humphreys Chapter (1960-1962, 1996- 2000, and 2006-2012); state regent (1968-1971, honorary state regent (1971), Vice President General (1971-1974), and Honorary Vice President General (1998) for life. In addition, she served in various capacities as member and chairman of the Platform Committee, Speaker’s Staff, Flag of the United States of America, and member of the By Laws Committee. Bettie served as chairman and member of numerous committees of the Mississippi Society including as Rosalie board member from 1968 through the present. This accounts for just a fraction of her activities and contributions. Her pride having been elected as Honorary Vice President General and the love of the Society beamed as she attended the Mississippi State Conference in Jackson and Continental Congress in Washington, D.C. as recently as the summer 2023. She was looking forward to attending for 2024.
With her boundless energy, she still had time for other activities: organizing member of Pleiades Club (1946); organizing member and first president of Las Camaradas Bridge Luncheon Club (1953); joined Town Club Luncheon Club (1948) and served as its third president (1949). She was active in the Mississippi Women’s Federation, the Community Children’s Theatre, and the Official Mississippi Women’s Club.
Bettie attended Millsaps College from 1943 through 1945, having been cut short by her wedding. She pledged Phi Mu Fraternity and was chosen Model Pledge in 1944. Her service to Phi Mu did not cease in college as she hosted the “Pref” party at her home for several years.
Her faithful devotion to First Presbyterian Church included being elected life member in 1987. She served in Women of the Church and served for thirty years on the PRO’s (Presbyterian Retired Organization) Committee, including luncheons each month for retired members. While she should have been being served, Bettie continued as the member serving. One of her fondest memories was serving those impacted by the flood of 1979 by working the food lines.
After the death of her husband in 1990, Bettie kept busy with her activities, working for her sister at Brown’s Fine Art and Framing, and on trips with Bettie Ruth which took her to Italy twice, England, France, Scotland and Mexico (including two attending the DAR state conference) and throughout the United States and sometimes joined by her sisters, nieces and nephews. But it was the week long trips throughout the years to New Orleans with Bettie Ruth that she most enjoyed because she could take her cat, Sweetie Pie, who was only happy in her lap.
Funeral services will begin with visitation at First Presbyterian Church at noon on Wednesday, January 10, followed by services at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Lakewood Memorial Park.
Pall bearers are her nephews: Gene Loflin, Michael Loflin, Allison Brown Simmons, Marc Allen and Joseph Pettit, and her great nephew, Jeremy Brown. Honorary pall bearers are her nephews and nieces: Donnie Loflin Myers, Emily Loflin, Doug Allen, David Allen, Missie Allen, Larry Brown, Joel Brown, Donald Pettit, and Traci Pettit Maloney.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to “Rosalie Mansion” (owned by the Mississippi Society DAR), or to First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi.
