Betty L Gretten

Betty was born March 16, 1942 in Savannah, GA. She lived in several states, most notable locations were Miami, FL where she graduated from Miami Jackson High School in 1960, and Hampton, VA, where she settled her family and would spend the last 56 years of her life.

She was a strong single mom that raised three children in a godly home, put them through a Christian school, and graduated college the same year as her oldest daughter graduated high school.

She had a great love for reading books until Alzheimer’s disease made it impossible to read. More recently, her favorite pastime was to watch Sue F.B.Eye. Above everything else, her love for the Lord and her family were her most cherished gifts.

Betty loved her time at Central Baptist School where she worked as a bookkeeper as well as other jobs, including a school bus driver, where she affectionately became known as “Granny” long before she became a grandmother. A lot of good memories were made on her bus with sing-a-longs and coloring books, but make no mistake, if things got out of hand, she would pull the bus over and all of her 4’8” self would square off to the tallest male teen that may have been causing trouble.

Over the years, Betty also held accounting jobs at various businesses and worked as a supervisor at Avon Fashions/Spiegel/NNI until she entered the retirement phase of life and began her journey babysitting her newest grandchild at that time.

She was a long-time member of Central Baptist Church and for the last 12 years, a member of Liberty Live Church; she rarely missed a service, right up until the end.

Betty was preceded in death by her father, Julian Jones, mother, Louise Grady, son, John Gretten, grandson, Cody Winkler, and her beloved chihuahua, Choco Taco.

Left to cherish her memories are her sister, Carole Sheline, brother, Delan “Deno” Jones (Pam), daughter Carole Knopp (David), daughter Deborah Adams (Mark), son, David Gretten (Melissa), 10 grandchildren: Joshua Winkler (Aleksandra), Cameron Winkler, “Jessica” Danielle Gretten (Jacob Genovese), Tony Gretten, Amanda “Shea” Johnson (Jordan), Isaac Wheeler, Jacob Wheeler, Matthew Wheeler, Grace Sandhofer-Adams, Maddie Adams, and 10 great grandchildren: Mace Winkler, Emily Winkler, Luna Genovese, Wednesday Genovese, Nick Winkler, Myah Yost, Stoney Shea Johnson, Sammy Winkler, Charlotte Winkler, and Baby Girl Genovese (on the way).

Special thanks to Ashley Hayes, Granny’s long-term companion sitter, for watching after Granny, and to Hampton Sentara Hospice for the gentle care you provided to her and to our family.

A private graveside service will be held Thursday, February 15, 2024, where she will be laid to rest at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.