Betty Geren Uzman

Betty Ben Geren, daughter of Sebastian County Judge Benton A. Geren and his wife Myra Petty Geren, and sister of Doris Gene Geren, was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Graduating in 1939 from Fort Smith (Northside) High School, she finished college at the University of Arkansas, and then received her M. D. from Washington University, Saint Louis, in 1945.

Making the discovery in 1953 of the jelly-roll structure of the myelin sheath during her post-doctoral work at MIT, Geren continued research in Boston at the Children’s Cancer Research Foundation. In 1954 she married Dr. L. Lahut Uzman, who became professor of Neurology at Harvard University. Betty G. Uzman remained in Boston after his death in 1962 until 1971, becoming professor of pathology at Harvard. Thereafter Uzman continued research in cancer and nerve development, working primarily within the Veterans’ Administration hospital system. During her career, she received the Weinstein award of the United Cerebral Palsy Association, and was decorated with the Order of Andres Bello, 1st Class, by the Venezuelan government.

Uzman built and retired to a house on family property near Scranton, Arkansas. An adventurous, traveler, reaching six continents, she was also a faithful supporter to friends and family, Preceded in death by her sister Doris Gene, she is survived by her only child, Betty Tuba Uzman, and her niece, Alva Elisabeth Edwards Jacobs, and her family.

Please donate in her memory to any medical charity you favor. Memorial activities are postponed until after the Covid surges pass.

Arrangements are entrusted to Edwards Funeral Home.