Betty Allenberg Goldstein

Betty Allenberg Goldstein of Birmingham, Alabama, passed away on June 4, 2023. She was born in Memphis, Tennessee on January 18,1928 to Amy and Julian Allenberg. Betty and her older brother, Edward, grew up in a love-filled home. Her family experienced tragedy when Betty was a young woman and Edward, her only sibling, was killed at the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.

Betty moved to Birmingham in 1947 when she married Herman Goldstein.

Betty’s life in Birmingham revolved around raising her three children and her many civic involvements. Betty proudly served on several boards, including the boards of Temple Emanu-El, the Birmingham Jewish Federation, and the Stephens Center. She also served as the Women’s Chair of the United Jewish Appeal, and on the National Board. Betty received the Birmingham Jewish Foundation’s N.E. Miles Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2016 was honored by the Alabama Holocaust Education Center with the L’Chaim Award for being a “a giver, doer, goer, helper and more.” Betty enjoyed traveling and no place was more important to her than Israel.

Betty was actively involved in both civic and national political campaigns, beginning with the 1975 Birmingham Mayoral campaign of David Vann and most recently in the 2018 Doug Jones Senatorial campaign where she was affectionately known as “Aunt Betty.” Betty believed in the equal rights of all people. During the 1960s, Betty worked to repeal the poll tax in order to give all people access to the right to vote.

Betty is survived by her children: Edward Goldstein (Rachel Krantz) of Leawood, KS, Corinne Goldstein (Rob Jenkins) of Washington D.C., and Amy Chauvin of Mountain Brook; five grandchildren: Amy Lentz (Mark), Robby Jenkins, Stephanie Goldstein, Lori Goldstein (Woodrow Merkel), and Jennifer Chauvin; and four great-grandchildren: Carter and Owen Lentz and Elsie and Clive Merkel.

A graveside for Betty will be held Tuesday, June 6, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum, 600 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Birmingham, AL 35211.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.johnsridouts.com for the Goldstein family.