Elizabeth "Betty" Walker Dykes

Elizabeth “Betty” Walker Dykes, a lifelong Atlantan born February 5, 1932, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. She lived a life marked by grace, generosity, adventure, and deep devotion to those she loved.

Betty was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Gene Dykes Sr.; her son, Gene Dykes Jr.; Lars Steib, whom she married later in life; and her parents, Arabelle and Joe Walker.

She is survived by her two daughters, Margaret Dykes Stickney and her husband, Bryan, and Elizabeth “Bet” Dykes Pope and her husband, Carter. She was a devoted grandmother to Bryan Stickney V (Kelsey), Jack Stickney (Madeline), Gene Dykes III, Will Dykes (Thea), Nathan “Nat” Dykes (Mickey), Carter Pope (Jessica), and Ross Pope (Caroline). She was also the proud great-grandmother of eleven great-grandchildren.

Betty is also survived by her brother, Joe Walker Jr., and his wife, Amelie, along with many adored nieces and nephews from the Walker and Kibler families who brought her great joy throughout her life.

The family extends its deepest gratitude to Betty’s devoted care team—Jane Hunt, Shell Mender, Oyindamola Eastman, and Thomas Mitchell (“Mitch”)—whose kindness, compassion, and friendship enriched her final years. The family is also grateful for the steadfast friendship of Annie Lee McCommons, a cherished lifelong friend.

Betty attended Washington Seminary and later graduated from Sweet Briar College, majoring in philosophy. She was a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta and was active in both the Piedmont Driving Club and the Cherokee Garden Club. Throughout her life, she generously supported causes close to her heart, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and A.G. Rhodes.

Travel was Betty’s great passion. Whether exploring Europe, venturing across Africa, or journeying to Kathmandu, she embraced the world with curiosity, enthusiasm, and a sense of adventure. As a young woman, she was a competitive swimmer, and her athletic spirit and commitment to exercise remained with her throughout her life.

Betty treasured her many friendships, particularly those formed during her college years and throughout her decades in Atlanta. She had an extraordinary appreciation for beauty—in performance arts, the Atlanta Ballet and the Atlanta Symphony, gardens, homes, and the world around her. She loved nothing more than being surrounded by beautiful things, her family, and traveling the world with her daughters.

Betty will be remembered for her elegance, adventurous spirit, generosity, unwavering friendships, and profound love for her family.

There will be a service at 11 a.m. on June 16 at First Presbyterian Church, 1328 Peachtree Street, Atlanta Ga, 30309

Please consider a gift in her memory to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 4550 Montgomery Ave., Suite 1100 N, Bethesda, MD 20814, https://give.cff.org/tribute/bettydykes ; or A.G. Rhodes, 3715 Northside Parkway, Bldg 200, Suite 725, Atlanta, GA 30327, agrhodes.org/donate/.