Betty Jean (Moore) Mayo passed away on the morning of February 15, 2024 in Greenwood, Arkansas. She was 100 years old. Betty was born October 20, 1923 to Lewis E. Moore and Faye Shockley Moore in the Union Grove community, Sebastian County, Arkansas that later became Fort Chaffee. She lived in or near Greenwood her entire life except for two years in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She was a 1942 graduate of Greenwood High School.
Betty met the love of her life, John Mayo in December 1942, when he came home on leave from the Army. He served overseas until 1945. Upon his return home, they were married on December 15, 1945. Betty and John owned and operated a grocery store in Greenwood from the 1940’s through the 1970’s. Those were People’s Supply, Mayo Grocery and Piggly Wiggly.
Betty enjoyed traveling, reading, needlework, crafts including doll houses, collecting dolls and most of all spending hours with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed writing and had written a collection of stories called Life. Several of the stories were printed in the Key Magazine, Southwest Times and the Greenwood Democrat where Betty had worked twice in her life.
Betty was a member of the First Baptist Church of Greenwood for most of her life. She was a charter member of the South Sebastian County Historical Society and the Harris-Hannah VFW Auxiliary #6527 in Greenwood. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society and Friends of the Library.
Surviving family members are her son, Johnny (JD) Mayo and wife, Pam of Monett, MO; her daughter, Jeannie Mayo Pope and husband, Wayne of Greenwood, AR; grandchildren, Russell Mayo (Belinda) of Springdale, AR, Rejeanna Williams (Jack) of Pierce City, MO, Jessica Sizemore (Josh) of Greenwood, AR, Jared Brixey of Greenwood, AR, David (Rebekah) Pope of Greenwood, AR, Lorra Taylor (Thomas Pelham) of Greenwood, AR and Will Pope of St. Croix, Virgin Island; great-grandchildren, Haley Williams of Kansas City, MO, Alyssa Williams of Edmond, OK, Kaitlyn Mayo of Springdale, AR, Madison Williams of Pierce City, MO, John Logan Mayo of Springdale, AR, Kaylee Edwards and Anna Claire Sizemore of Greenwood, AR, Allison Taylor, William Taylor, Dennis Pope all of Greenwood, AR, Elizabeth Pope of Conway, AR, David Pope JR USAF of Guam and Jayden Pope and Maleah Pope of Roland, OK; her brother, Ferrell (Norma) Moore of Katy, TX and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 42 years, John Mayo, her parents, Lewis and Faye Moore and her brother, Harrell Moore.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, February 20 at Greenwood First Baptist Church with burial at Liberty Cemetery under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Viewing will be Monday from 1 – 7 p.m. at the funeral home, where the family will visit with friends from 5 – 7 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Russell Mayo, Jared Brixey, John Logan Mayo, Gary Cumbie, Larry Ray and Doug Kinslow.
Memorial contributions may be made to the South Sebastian County Historical Society, PO Box 523 Greenwood, AR 72936.
To share a memory or leave a message for the family, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.
