Betty "B.J." Jane Doyle

Betty Jane (B.J.) Palmer Doyle, age 59, of Athens, GA died suddenly early Saturday March, 22, 2014. Betty was born at Athens General Hospital on August 31, 1954. She was the daughter of the late Dr. Jack Roles Palmer and his wife, Jean Boyd Palmer. B.J. attended Athens public schools and graduated from Clarke Central High School in 1972. While at Clarke Central, she was selected for membership in the National Beta Club. Betty entered the University of Georgia in 1972 where is majored in Elementary Education graduating cum laude in August of 1976. She elected to continue her education where she earned her Master of Education degree from UGA in August of 1977. Betty pursued her lifelong ambition to teach young students first at Barrow Elementary and then Timothy Road Elementary in Athens. Always active in local civic organizations she was a member of the Junior League of Athens for a number of years. Through a chance encounter in the laundry mat of Westchester Manor Apartments, B.J. met a young Naval officer attending classes at the Navy Supply Corps School. John and B.J. were married at Athens First United Methodist on August 27, 1983. Their Naval journey took them first to Norfolk, VA; then to multiple tours in the Washington, DC area. Their only child, John William was born at the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD on April 8, 1986. B.J. and John eagerly seized the opportunity to return to Athens in July 1989 as a member of the staff at the Navy Supply Corps School. They have enjoyed the Athens experience together ever since. Betty is survived by her mother, Jean Boyd Palmer, her husband, John Robert Doyle, and their son, John William.

A Celebration of Life service is scheduled for Monday, March 31st at 1:30PM at Athens First United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the Athens First United Methodist Church Congregational Care Ministry, 327 N. Lumpkin St, Athens, GA 30601 or the Georgia Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 3525 Piedmont Rd NE, Bldg. 6, Ste 300, Atlanta, GA in B.J.’s memory.

Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com

Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.