Betty Jean Smith

Born on August 11, 1950, Pastor and Missionary Oratio and Jerlene Smith welcomed into the world Betty Jean Smith, in Hanford, California. Altogether, Betty was the third of nine children. Always a joy to be around to her siblings, her passions were listening and singing gospel music at home and at Calvary Church of God in Christ. Betty's testimonies were filled with her love of Jesus, which mostlv ended with a song of sincere thankfulness, and she'd say. "I thank God for what he's done and what he's going to do".

Betty has always been by her mother’s side. As a toddler, Sis Betty suffered a traumatic heat injury that damaged an area of her brain that caused her muscular and nerve damage in her right hand and arm. Sis Betty showed a massive determination to compete and do whatever her siblings did. Don't feel sorry for me ya’ll, she said. She went to school, worked at the Kings Rehabilitation Center, and praised God like her parents.

In her bedroom, she had a collection of old and new gospel spirituals that she would sing along with. When she found her voice, she'd sing" Eyes of the Sparrow and Walk Around Heaven" in church to comfort the Saints. It seemed like whenever there was church, Sis Betty was there praising with everyone else. Always dressed up and ready to go. Sis Betty became a Choir member and had the highest pitch. Along with her cousins and sister, Calvary competed with the top church choirs in California.

Sis Betty loved everyone and she really enjoyed her birthday. Receiving gifts was one of her favorite pastimes. Sis Betty never married or had children. She was blessed with numerous nieces and nephews, and cousins that adored her, along with a host of aunts and uncles. Her parents and siblings were the loves of her life, and they were all second only to Jesus. We will miss our sister. Our hearts ache with the joy of knowing she is once again with her mother.

On July 23, 2020, at 12:40 am, Sis Betty answered the call from God. She leaves behind to cherish her memory: Father: Superintendent/Pastor Oratio Smith, Brother: Elder Jimmy Lee Smith (Missionary Peggy), Sister: Missionary Evalean McKnight, Brother: Elder Samuel Earl Smith (Sister Ozell), Brother Oratio Smith, Jr.(Sister Diane), Brother Steven Smith (Sister Diane), Sister Loretta Smith.

Sis Betty is preceded in death by: Mother: Missionary Jerlene Smith, Brother: Minister Bobby Lo Smith, Brother: Alvin Lee Smith. May God bless you and keep you. Amen