Betty M. Garges

Betty Goodwyn Musgrave Garges passed away on April 19, 2011 at Traces of Tiger Retirement Center in Tiger, GA. Born in Boykin, Virginia on April 26, 1920 to Dr. and Mrs. G.H. Musgrave, she lived her early life in Leesburg, Virginia where her father was a small town physician. She was educated in Loudoun County Schools and graduated from Loudon County High School as Valedictorian of her class and Captain of the women’s basketball team. She attended Hollins College where she met and fell in love with Herbert Kelly Garges, Jr. of Atlanta. Following their marriage in October of 1940, the young couple lived in Washington, Boston and New York while Kelly was serving his country as a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. After the War they moved to Atlanta where they spent the rest of their lives. Kelly Garges passed away in 2006. Betty is survived by her son Douglas Kelly Garges and his wife Esther and Natalie Garges Morris and her husband Gene. She is also survived by her grandchildren Dr. Eugene Brannon Morris III (Leigh), George Harrison Morris (Coleman), E. Ridley Warren (Rick) and Douglas Kelly Garges, Jr. She was pleased to know and love her great grandchildren who are E.B. Morris (Bo) IV, Margaret (Maggie) Chambers Morris, Elizabeth Rae Morris (Rae), Thomas Barton Warren (Barton) and Wrenn Douglas Warren (Wrenn).

Our mother lived a long and fruitful life and she will be missed by those of us she leaves behind. She was a beautiful woman, both in appearance and personality, attentive and caring mother, scout leader and outstanding athlete. During the 1950’s, she had the distinction of being the Ladies Tennis Club Champion of both the Capital City Club and the Piedmont Driving Club at the same time. She was a fierce competitor and playing her was like playing a human backboard – the ball always came back.

Betty loved to travel – particularly to France. She made numerous trips to France and took great pleasure one summer in showing the Normandy countryside to her children and grandchildren. Her trips inspired her to pursue a hobby of painting and we are proud to have her many pictures hanging in her children’s and grandchildren’s homes. She always loved to return each year to her native Virginia. She was proud of her Virginia roots and up to the very end would proclaim “I am a Virginian.”

She leaves us now and the pain and suffering of dementia are no longer. Her loved ones are secure in the knowledge that she truly is in a better place with those that she loved so much.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Lenbrook Square and The Traces of Tiger for their care and attention during the last months of her life. Our deepest appreciation goes out to our family angel, Immacula Pierre for her loving care.

A graveside service will be held at Arlington Memorial Park on Monday, April 25 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a contribution in Betty’s name be sent to the Center for the Visually Impaired, 739 Peachtree St., NW Atlanta, GA 30308.