Betty Jo Haywood

Betty Jo McDonald Haywood, 77, died 10/22/2012 at her home at Canterbury Court in Atlanta, after a long illness. She was born in McRae, Georgia to Allie Mae and Lee Roy McDonald. She attended McRae-Helena High school and graduated from Georgia Teacher’s College in Statesboro and began teaching. She later moved to Atlanta and worked for the John Harland Company. She married Gene Haywood of Columbus, Georgia, and they were happily married for 55 years, enjoying traveling and raising their family. She was a devoted wife and mother and an active member of St. James United Methodist Church.  Betty is survived by her husband, Gene Haywood of Atlanta; two daughters and their spouses, Laura and Will Gurley and Nancy and Jim Sherman, both of Atlanta; grandchildren and their spouses Hank and Elizabeth Gurley of Atlanta, Lance and Rebecca Gurley  of Dallas, Texas, Liza and Zach Eaves of Birmingham, Alabama, and Ellie Sherman, and Jay Sherman. She is also survived by her sisters and brother, Ruth Alexander, Jackie Roberts, Faye Murdaugh, Jane Bowling, and Bob McDonald, as well as by many beloved nieces and nephews.  There will be a private burial at Arlington Memorial Park in Atlanta, followed by a memorial service for friends and family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (www.alzinfo.org/donate), One Intrepid Square, West 46th Street and 12th Avenue, New York, NY. 10036.