Betty Jo Wemyss

Born March 27, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan, Betty Jo grew up in Gallatin, Tennessee and spent her adult life in Nashville after graduating from Vanderbilt University.

She is preceded in death by her parents Dr. William and Hazel Dedman, brother Bill Morgan Dedman, first husband Alex D. Harlin, and her husband of 35 years William H Wemyss, Jr. Betty Jo also cherished her time in later years with her very good friend, the late Vaden “Cookie” Lackey.

Betty Jo “reluctantly” (her words, not ours) leaves her children Mary Brooks Mathews (Bert) and Alex D. Harlin (Edie) and seven grandchildren: Harding Blackman, Alex Blackman (Sahar), Walter Blackman, Witt Harlin, Ella Mathews, Hop Mathews and Thomas Harlin. She is also survived by a brother, Robert H Dedman (Penny), nephews Hughes and Morgan Dedman, niece Ellen Dedman Millar and four wonderful stepchildren Mary Ellen Lovell, Bill Wemyss (Tammy), Jesse Pinner (Danny) and Harriett Kirk (Rainey) and seven dear step grandchildren.

Betty Jo professed herself a “plantaholic.” She enjoyed traveling to homes in Colorado and Florida where she loved to utilize native plants in her gardens and yards. She especially liked traveling with William throughout the Pacific Northwest with their various dogs. They enjoyed photography and hiking in the mountain ranges in Colorado well into their late sixties. Betty Jo took great pride in her Advanced Open Water Diver certificate, too. She always carried the license in her wallet. She was a staunch protector of the environment and continued to make donations to Nature’s Conservancy and the Sierra Club until her death.

Betty Jo was a member of the Garden Club of Nashville and Deer Park Garden Club. She and a group of long-standing friends also had a bridge club for 65 years.

Betty Jo was a graduate of Gallatin High School and remained life-long friends with the four girls with whom she started walking to school in the first grade. She attended Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia before returning home to graduate from Vanderbilt.

Memorial service will be Thursday, August 29, 2019 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. Visitation will be from 3pm-4pm at the church with a service to follow at 4pm. A Celebration of Life will follow at the home of Brooks and Bert Mathews at 3806 Whitland Avenue.

The family would like to recognize her long-time friend and care giver Hattie Burns for her many years of friendship and support. We would also like to recognize Helen Featherston for her care along with the excellent service of Next-Door Nurses and the support of Alive Hospice and Tifinie King.

Betty Jo requested any donations should be directed to the environmental organization of your choice or to any Humane Society shelter. Please visit Marshalldonnellycombs.com