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tree
planted in memory of Betty Ann Brown
Obituary for Betty Ann Brown
Betty Ann Smith Brown passed away in Aiken, South Carolina, on November 16, 2022. She was 95 years old.
Betty Ann was born to William Hammett and Lucille Ryan Smith on October 12, 1927, in Andrews and was their only child.
She graduated from Andrews High School and then Coker College in Hartsville. She worked in education her entire career – first as a high school American history teacher and then as an attendance teacher. Many of her students became lifelong friends.
She married Larry Brown of Barnwell, where they raised two children. Along with holding a full-time job and being a mother, she was active in First Baptist Church of Barnwell. Her husband died in May 2017. She moved to Anchor, a skilled-care nursing facility in Aiken in November 2018, where she lived her remaining days.
She’s survived by her children: Forrest Brown of Atlanta and Emmylou Brown of Barnwell, as well as her daughter’s fiancé, Mike Keel of Barnwell.
Betty Ann was a trusted confidant and friend to many people. Her home was always open to them – no call required. She was a talkative, outgoing, inquisitive soul with a good sense of humor and was known for giving excellent, no-nonsense advice (whether it was requested or not).
Growing up, she loved going to the beach at Pawleys Island. She was an excellent cook, renowned for her pecan pies and butter beans. She enjoyed watching Gamecock sports and traveling with her family and tour groups. She was an avid bridge player, and many an hour was passed in the Brown family living room playing cards with friends. She enjoyed a good pimento cheese sandwich and chocolate ice cream.
She had a wide circle of close friends, including Weesie Fickling, June Black, Lura Deane Richardson, Virginia Norwood, Jane Bradley, Eleanor Still, Rose Turner, Ann Moore and Camille Thomas, among many others. She was also lifelong friends with her pastors, Posey Belcher and Billy Vaughn, and had a cherished relationship with her husband’s nephew, Paul Bolen, and his wife, Donna.
She also was close with younger generations and had a deep friendship with Blake and Jess Wilbanks. Finally, she had a wide circle of cherished kinfolk, including Fritz and Margaret Smith and Billy Ryan.
After she moved to Anchor Rehab in Aiken, she won over a new set of friends and made close connections with staff and residents during some trying times.
Her children would like to thank her many caregivers at home and at Anchor, whose dedication and friendship went way beyond the call of duty.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, November 21, at Barnwell First Baptist Church, 161 Allen St., Barnwell, SC 29812. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Mole Funeral Home will be handling the funeral arrangements.
Pallbearers will be: Mike Anderson, Reid Boylston, Ricky Black, Rhett Richardson, Robin Lokey and Blake Wilbanks.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you make a contribution to First Baptist Soup Kitchen, Methodist Church Cemetery, or choice of your own.
To plant a tree in memory of Betty Ann Brown, visit the Tribute Store.
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