Betty Hollingsworth

Waynesville, Betty Emogene (Kelley) Hollingsworth, 78, of Waynesville, passed away very gently at her home on Friday, August 2, 2019.  Betty was born in Waynesville on December 21, 1940 to Jack and Selma Kelley and would remain a lifelong resident of Waynesville.  She started a 70-year devotion to music at age 8 when Rev. Kay Allen would come by the house to pick her up and take her to play piano at Francis Cove Church.  This would lead to Betty proudly becoming the organist for Ninevah Baptist Church and faithfully serving Christ there for close to 50 years.  Betty’s faithfulness to the Lord was always shown with her attendance to play the organ.  No matter how sick she was from her lung disease, she attended Ninevah Baptist Church until her physical body could not go anymore.  Her musical service included playing the organ and piano for Wells Funeral Home and Garrett Funeral Home as well as playing for many weddings and events.  Betty was an awesome cook and the best baker ever!  Everyone loved her pound cakes.  They were like tasting a little bit of sweet heaven.

She met the love of her life, Bill, at church when she was only 12, and went on to marry him on May 22, 1957.  Betty and Bill enjoyed a loving and inseparable marriage for 62 years that was filled with many happy memories and wonderful times with each other and family.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Selma Kelley, of Waynesville, and her brother, Jimmy Kelley, of the Crabtree area. She is survived by her loving husband, Bill, of Waynesville; daughter, Cindi Jones, and husband, Brian, of Waynesville; daughter, Julie Lovett, and husband, David, of Waynesville; grandson, Jonathan Keener of Waynesville; granddaughter, Tori Jacobs, and husband, Jake, of Leon, Iowa; sister-in-law, Bobbie Jean Kelley Plemmons, and husband, Gene, of Waynesville; brother-in-law, Jesse Hollingsworth, and wife, Velma, of Bethel; brother-in-law, Robert Hollingsworth, and wife, Julianne, of Burlington, NC; great-grandchildren, Rosalie, Brooklyn, and Tessa Jacobs of Leon, Iowa; many nieces and nephews.  The family would like to recognize and thank Betty’s Sunday School class.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at Ninevah Baptist Church with Reverend Mike Leslie officiating.  Burial will follow at Greenhill Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. prior to the services at the church.

The care of Mrs. Hollingsworth has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes.