Betty Hurst Nestlehutt

Betty lived most of her adult life in Marietta, Georgia where she maintained many friendships and was active in her church community. She had a long career as a residential real estate agent and loved the entire process of meeting with a client, lining up property, negotiating the contract and helping her client close on the perfect home. Betty enjoyed traveling, cooking, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. She had a gift for hospitality and caring for and looking out for others. Betty enjoyed playing Rummikub and was an avid bridge player. Earlier in life she had been a competitive ALTA tennis player.

Betty Ruth Hurst was born on June 22, 1934, on a farm in Caney Valley, Tennessee, to Rufus Hamilton Hurst and Bessie Hayes Hurst and was one of eight children. She graduated from Claiborne County High School and moved to Atlanta where she attended Massey Business School. Betty met her future husband M. Bruce Nestlehutt at a party hosted by mutual friends. She and Bruce were happily married for 58 years, until his death in 2016.

In 2006, Betty was significantly harmed during surgery. Due to a 2005 Georgia law that capped awards for medical malpractice, her award was severely limited. Betty’s heroic testimony in her own case and in future cases on behalf of other victims ultimately led to that law being overturned in 2010 by the Georgia Supreme Court. The ruling was praised by victims’ rights groups and plaintiffs’ lawyers. Betty’s legacy lives on in the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association’s “Nestlehutt Courageous Pursuit of Justice Award”.

Betty is survived by her children Dawn Klempf Clements (Charles), and Mark Nestlehutt (Abigail), and grandchildren Zachary Klempf, Dr. Nicholas Klempf (Dr. Natalie Weiss), Asa Nestlehutt, and Honor Nestlehutt. She is also survived by her former son-in-law, Marc Klempf, and by her beloved caregiver, Mora Eyoh, as well as by several nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11am on Friday, April 11, in the Chapel of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Atlanta Botanical Garden: 1345 Piedmont Ave, Atlanta, GA 30309, atlantabg.org and the Seamen’s Church Institute: 50 Broadway, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10004, seamenschurch.org.