Betty Ellis Jones Guy

Betty Ellis Guy, age 87, of Macon, Georgia passed away on Wednesday, February 7, 2024. Visitation will be held Tuesday, February 13, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Snow's Memorial Chapel, 746 Cherry St., Macon, GA 31201. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 PM in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Paul Dziadul officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, 1091 Riverside Drive, Macon, Georgia 31201.

Betty was born November 5, 1936, to the late Ernest C. Ellis and Willie Mae Smith Ellis Best. She graduated high school from A L Miller Senior High in Macon. Her quest for knowledge continued, demonstrated by her obtaining an Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, and a Master of Education degree along with obtaining many other professional certifications and training throughout her career.

Being a dedicated employee of GEorgia Department of Corrections for over 28 years, Betty was recognized for many achievements and awards. She proudly served as Probation/Parole Officer, Sub-Office Manager, Intensive Probation Supervisor, and as Probation Supervisor III. Betty was most proud of her career as the Correctional Facility Director of the Macon Diversion Center. She was a strong believer in 2nd chances and assisted many in turning their lives around. Betty was also a part time instructor at Mercer University College teaching Criminal Justice and Psychology courses and at Brenau College teaching Counseling Skills, Psychology, and Sociology courses.

Betty has been recognized in various publications for her career accomplishments including Personalities of the South, Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, and World Who’s Who of Women. She was very creative throughout her lifetime and enjoyed writing and even wrote several short stories and poems that were published. As an artist, she was very talented and painted and sketched many beautiful pieces, even into her 80s. Painting was her passion. Betty continued learning and mastering her art with 20 years of private art classes and she won many awards for her work. She painted a series of Georgia courthouses that are hanging in judges chambers across the state.

Betty enjoyed many adventures while cruising and traveling to various countries with her husband and friends. She was always ready for the next adventure. Betty was a licensed private pilot that enjoyed flying for many years. She also enjoyed spending time interviewing people and researching different branches of her family genealogy. She spent a lot of time walking through old graveyards reading gravestones.

Betty was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother “Ma-Mosh”, great-grandmother and friend. She was preceded in death by husband, Richard “Dick” Jones (2010), Husband, William “Billy” Guy (2018), and sister, Susan (Best) Fortin.

Betty is survived by her son, Ray Hibbs III (Pam), of Copperas Cove, TX and daughter, Dana Suggs (Willie) of Barnesville, GA. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, Liz Sizemore (John), Stephen Hibbs (Jessica), Mike Hibbs, Sam Hibbs, Nicole Suggs, Rin Suggs, Ashley Reynolds, Vance Jones, and Zackery Jones, three great grandchildren, Ayden Hibbs, Nolan Hibbs, and Natalie Sizemore, sister, Sheron (Best) Silva, cousins Franklin “Frankie” Ellis and Evan Jones, many loved nieces and nephews and her loving cat, John Wayne.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Macular Degeneration Center of Excellence Fund at www.umassmed.edu/seddonlab.

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam, and for a brief moment it’s glory and beauty belong to our world, but then it flies again and though we wish it could have stayed, we feel lucky to have seen it. Author Unknown