Bette Wall Waters

Oct 22, 1933 – Jan 19, 2015

A native of Elkin (Surry Co.) NC, Bette was preceded in death by her parents, Corbett and Zettie Wall, and by three of her siblings: JC Wall, Rosie White, and Gertha Moxley. She is survived by her husband of 60 years Dana Waters III, son Dana Waters IV, daughter Elise Olonia, three grandchildren: Dana Waters V, Katrina Waters, and Maya Olonia, and by her sister Maggie (Benny) Cockerham.

Bette was a graduate of Elkin High School where she lettered three years in basketball, and of the Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing (Charlotte, NC) with an R.N. She practiced her profession at Emory University Hospital (Decatur, GA) and the University Hospital (Augusta, GA).

Bette was a person of deep faith that she found easy to express. Her husband says that she was the most natural Christian he knew, that her faith was embedded in her very nature. Her church involvement began in childhood when she started attending the Elkin Presbyterian Church, a Presbyterian love affair that lasted her whole life. She served on Winston-Salem Presbytery’s Youth Council.

She wanted to marry a minister, and did, following her husband to Columbia Seminary, where she was president of the Seminary “Wives Club.” She became a devoted pastor’s wife through five churches (GA, SC, and AL). Her participation included singing in choirs in each church, teaching in Sunday school, serving as Sr. High Youth Advisor, roles in Presbyterian Women leadership, and as a Deacon at South Highland Presbyterian. She was co-organizer of “Monday’s Table,” a small prayer/study group of women at South Highland. Beyond all formal roles was her work in the background and support of her husband’s ministry.

Among the strengths for which Bette was known was her compassionate nature and sensitivity to others. She was a confidant to family and friends, and enjoyed in-depth conversations. She lived life with passion and never lacked ideas for improvement. Her pleasures included theater (she was for 25+ years a season subscriber and an avid supporter of Alabama Shakespeare Theater), travel both internationally and in all 50 states, music, literature, and her children and grandchildren (of whom she was insufferably proud!).

The family expresses gratitude to Bette’s caregivers from Optum Hospice: Bobby Gilley, Sarah Miller, and Jamie Garrett.

A memorial service of gratitude to God will be held at South Highland Presbyterian on Friday at 5:00 pm with greeting of guests following. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Waters Scholarship Fund at Columbia Theological Seminary (Box 520, Decatur, GA 30031, www.CTSnet.edu), Living River (3603 Lorna Road, Birmingham, AL 35216, www.livingriver.org), or the South Highland Foundation (PO Box 55933, Birmingham, AL 35255, www.southhighland.org/giving/planned-giving/).

)Arrangements under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel, Homewood, AL.