Betty Jo Fletcher

Fletcher, Betty Jo Payne, much adored wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and

sister, passed away in Fayetteville, Ga on Wednesday, Feb 8, 2023, only 11

hours after the passing of her husband, Fred.

Betty was born July 11, 1930 in Atlanta, Ga, to the late William Harrison Payne

and Mary Addie Stephens Payne, both of Habersham County, Ga. She grew up

with two sisters, Emma Lou and Katherine. Betty attended Girl's High and

graduated from O'Keefe High School in Atlanta, where she was voted the

prettiest girl in the class.

At age 15, she met her best friend and love, Freddie Fletcher, in Sunday School

at the Baptist Tabernacle. From that first date, they were only apart when Fred

served in the US Navy. They married November 3, 1950 and began a life

together. Betty worked at Southern Bell until she gave birth to her daughters,

Jody and Dana, and from then on, worked as a devoted mama and homemaker.

Every prom dress was stitched by hand and each dinner had a homemade

dessert.

Betty loved her Sunday School friends at Clairmont Hills Baptist church. Her and

Fred often played cards, or traveled to the beach or the mountains to laugh and

perfect their skill at 'Continental' (a penny a point!) She always returned from a

church party with a hilarious story of getting locked in a bathroom or some other

antic.

One of Betty's favorite bible verses was John 20:29: "You believe because you

have seen me. But blessed are those who haven't seen me and believe anyway."

Betty's participation in their annual Christmas door competition led her to create

a sweet child sitting atop a roof, looking up into the Christmas sky, with this

verse underneath. She won first prize!

In her 60s, Betty picked up a brush and began painting with oils. Her remarkable

talent produced numerous landscapes, country churches for annual Christmas

cards, and yes, even some discreet nudes, because, according to her,

"Otherwise, you're just painting clothes!"

While she loved country music, collecting antiques, traveling, exercising and art,

her favorite love was her grandchildren. Pushing one of her four grands on the

backyard swingset was 'Heaven, pure heaven.'

Betty will be remembered for her gentle and sweet nature. Her rock solid

Christian faith led her through many personal trials where she never complained.

Her favorite saying was "It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and

not have it." Betty leaves a void in the hearts of her two daughters, Dana

Chitwood (Dirk), Jody Kitchen, grandchildren Beau Fulton (Sharilyn), Anna Kemp

(Ross), Alex Kitchen and Sarah Kitchen. She has nieces and nephews and many

loved friends. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to contribute to God's Eyes Inc,

https://godseyes.com/ Services will be Saturday Feb 11 at 11:00 a.m. at A.S.

Turner & Sons in Decatur, Arrangements by A.S. Turner & Sons