Betty Ivis Houston

Betty Howell Houston, 77, passed away Saturday, November 12, 2011, while staying with her daughter in Lakeland, Florida.

She was born April 4, 1934 in Blackshear, and spent her childhood and young adult years there. After graduation from Blackshear High School she married Florian Louis Houston in 1952. Their early family years they lived in Melbourne, FL. She had resided in Tallahassee since 1972. She received her bachelor of science degree in nursing and master of science in health from Florida State University. She had a meaningful career in the medical field with a specialty in Diabetic Management and Education. She was employed with Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center and the Diabetes Center for many years.

She was a devoted Mother, wife and servant in her home church Bradfordville First Baptist Church, Tallahassee, FL. She taught an adult Sunday School class, served on the personnel committee and volunteered in the Manna program which provides food to the needy families in the Tallahassee community. She also gave her time to the community as a small group leader with Bible Study Fellowship as well as volunteering with Live the Life, a non-profit, faith based ministry that serves to strengthen marriages and families. She and her husband were recognized for their service with Live the Life’s Volunteer of the Year award. She served many but her passion was her family and she was a devoted wife and Mother.

Survivors include a daughter, Lisa Houston May, Lakeland, FL; a son, Thomas Louis Houston, Tallahassee, FL; grandchildren, Amanda Frances May, Lakeland, FL, Paul Marshall May Jr. and Molly Kimmons May, both of Tuscaloosa, AL, Marshall Houston May, Lakeland, FL and Lance Corporal Thomas Louis Houston, serving in the U.S. Marine Corps; two sisters, Iris Howell Perkinson of Hoboken and Edna Evyonne Collins, Blackshear; a brother, James Alton Howell, Astor, FL; a brother-in-law, Francis Houston, Blackshear; and a sister-in-law, Charline Houston Hargraves, Port St. Joe, FL.

Visitation will take palce from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, November 17 at Culley’s Meadowwood Chapel, 700 Timberlane Road, Tallahassee, FL. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, November 18, from the Bradfordville First Baptist Church, 6494 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, FL. Interment will follow at 3 p.m. that afternoon at the Blackshear Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Paul Marshall May Jr. and Marshall Houston May, nephews, Charles Hargraves and Tony Howell and longtime family friends, Jimmy Martin and George Borders.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to the Manna program at Bradfordville FBC.

Culley’s Meadowwood Funeral Home of Tallahassee, FL, is in charge of arrangements.