Welcome – Ben Betts

Introduction of officers for 2007 through 2008

Ben F. Betts, Jr. – President

Tommy Barineau – Vice President

Betty Jane Betts – Secretary

Charlotte Harvey – Treasurer

Introduction of Advisory Committee

Nancy Suber, Linda Scruggs, Martha Howe, Patti Spooner,

Sara Sue Alexander, Mary Louise Blount, Betty Jane Betts

Ex-0fficio

Foy Nelle Barineau, Madeline White

President’s Address – Ben F. Betts, Jr.

Cemetery Report

Treasurer’s Report – Charlotte Harvey

Secretary’s Report – Betty Jane Betts

Betts Reunion Website and Email – Lamar Leynes

Web:                      http://www.fairpoint.net/~betts_reunion/

Email:                    betts_reunion@fairpoint.net

Wedding Announcements –

                Robert Edwin Miller m. Caroline Marshall May – January 13, 2007

                Hunter White m. Summer – June 16, 2007

Birth Announcements –

                Ann Heather White – July 17, 2007 (1^st girl in 61 years)

                Mary Ryan Mitchell – September 1, 2007

                Paul Michael South – November 14, 2006

                Garrett Rushley

Military Recognitions -

                Daniel Betts – United States Marine PFC

                                Son of Steven Betts, Grandson of Carlton Marion Betts

Remembrances (2006-2007)

                Grace Cross Betts – January 2, 1933 – February 18, 2007

                Noah Christopher Brock – March 26, 2007 – March 28, 2007

                Betty Sue Swain Jackson – September 25, 1929 – May 20, 2007

                Carlton Marion Betts – April 14, 1918 – September 24, 2007

Future Reunions – Planning Discussion

                Saturday Reunion with Church on Sunday – for those who travel?

                Regularly scheduled meetings during the year of the planning committee?

                Input and Comments –

Program Presenter – Edwin Duke

Betts Family Book – Get your copy and keep it up!

Family Group Photographs -

Tribute of Love and Respect
by Harriet Hutchinson Walls

Olive Annette “Snookum” Betts Hutchinson Jan. 19, 1912- Aug. 9, 2006

Parents:

            Hampton Robert Betts 1886-1947

            Marie Roberson Betts 1888-1949

Siblings:

            Janie Betts Edwards                                          Nell Betts Priest

            Harry Betts                                                       James William “Buster” Betts

Susie Betts Cox                                                  Essie Betts

“Daddy Hamp” nicknamed all of his children.  Most were fortunate to escape their nicknames—including one that will remain nameless called “Pig.”  A couple of his children retained their nicknames throughout life.  Few knew “Buster” as James William—perhaps none!  Mother was Annette to some, “Snookum” to most and Mother or Mama to Denny and me. 

“Snookum” was born and raised in Bettstown less than a mile from Franklin Baptist Church.  She was a member of this church and was baptized in “Uncle Frank’s” millpond in Bettstown.  Through her entire life she loved Franklin Baptist Church.  Her daddy, “Daddy Hamp,” and his brother, I think it was “Uncle Peck,” rebuilt Franklin Baptist following a storm in 1941.  The storm blew the church down except the pews and the floor.

Mother and her siblings walked to school in Faceville.  From there she graduated and moved to Quincy to work in the cigar factory until she married.  On August 10, 1935, she married Harry Gordon “Hutch” Hutchinson.  Their son, Denny, was born on December 28, 1936 and daughter, Harriet, on September 20, 1943.

Mother was a wonderful cook and loved to bake.  She used this talent throughout her life.  She baked three dozen biscuits on a wood stove every morning for her family until she moved away.  She was manager of the school food service for George Monroe Elementary from its inception until she retired in 1978.  She and her first cousin, Frances Wiggins who was manager at Quincy High School, competed with one another for providing the “best meals” and for having school board members come to their lunchrooms to eat.

However, Mother’s greatest pleasure was baking for friends and relatives.  Rarely did anyone visit that she could not offer fresh baked cake, cookies or rolls; and usually she would send some home with the visitor.  Compliments for her food usually got a response of “it’s got a lot of love in it.”

That, for me, characterizes Mother.  She demonstrated “unconditional love.”  I often said that I thought that I could have done anything, and Mother would still have been there for me.  She truly loved her family and friends.

Mother often talked about her family gathering around the piano and singing.  She also spoke of the fact that Aunt Janie and Aunt Nell took piano lessons.  Furthermore, she was determined that I would have piano lessons.  Much later I learned that many of these were paid for with her “home-made” rolls.  As a result of the importance of Franklin Baptist Church in Mother’s life and the pleasure that she and her family derived from the piano, we thought that it would be especially fitting to donate a new piano to the church in memory of Mother and Daddy.