Mrs. Bettye Zachery of Fort Valley, Georgia departed this life on March 13, 2023, at her residence. The family will greet friends on Thursday, March 23, 2023, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church, 1101 E Church Street, Fort Valley, Georgia. MASKS ARE REQUIRED.
A Private Funeral Service for Mrs. Zachery will be held on Friday, March 24, 2023, at noon at Shiloh Baptist Church, Fort Valley, Georgia. Interment will follow in Willow Lake Cemetery.
Bettye Ruth was born January 25, 1946, in Montezuma, Georgia to the late Jonas and Alice Mathis Thomas. She attended Flint River Farms Elementary School and graduated from D. F. Douglas High School in Montezuma, Georgia in 1964 where she was selected as Miss D. F. Douglass High School. She graduated from Fort Valley State College in 1969 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Elementary Education. While attending Fort Valley State College, she pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and was an active member of several honor societies and extra-curricular activities. After receiving her undergraduate degree, she received her Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Fort Valley State College and an Educational Specialist degree from Troy State University.
She met Clyde Morris Zachery while attending Fort Valley State University and they were married in 1969. They have three children: Richard Thompson of Jacksonville, Florida, Samuel Wayne (Katriece) West of Atlanta, Georgia and Nikki (Craig) Cooper of Warner Robins, Georgia.
After serving as an educator in the Houston County Public School system, she retired after 30 years of service. As a retiree, she was a faithful member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated - Fort Valley Alumni Chapter, the Fort Valley State University Alumnae Association, and the Retired Teachers' Association.
Bettye was a member of the Shade Arnold Baptist Church in Montezuma, Georgia prior to joining the Shiloh Baptist Church in Fort Valley where she faithfully served on the Usher’s Ministry. She was also an active member of the Missionary Ministry until her health started to decline.
Her parents and four of her siblings Dorothy Hooks, James Thomas, Alice Mae Lofton and Estella Kendrick preceded her in death. She leaves five siblings to cherish her memory: Willie (Carrie) Thomas, Mary D. Thomas and Barbara Ann Parker of Rochester, New York, Charles (Ila) Thomas of Atlanta, Georgia and Joan (Robert) Granville of Marshallville, Georgia; a granddaughter, Samaria West of Atlanta, Georgia; a grandson, Brandon Thompson and a great-granddaughter, Anastasia Thompson of Jacksonville, Florida. In addition, she leaves a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, sorority sisters, friends, and other family members to cherish her legacy.
TTo view this service live or at a later date, click on the link below or watch on our Facebook page.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/CTFY4VcAPbQ