Mrs. Bettie Jean Bishop

Bettie Jean Bishop, born April 7, 1937, in Johnston County, North Carolina, passed away on April 29, 2026. She was the oldest of seven children and the beloved daughter of Mary Sanders and Lawrence Williams.

In her early years, Bettie moved to New York before eventually settling in Washington, DC, where she built her life. She was the devoted mother of Joseph “JoJo” Leon Sanders and Gladys Marie Jones. Bettie dedicated much of her professional life to hospitality, earning the respect and gratitude of her coworkers throughout her career. Her dedication, warmth, and work ethic were a testament to how much she meant to the community she served.

Affectionately known as “Teeny,” Bettie was small in stature but powerful in presence. She was known for her quiet strength, her steady support, and her ability to make people feel heard. She enjoyed crossword and word search puzzles, watching Lifetime movies, and was widely known in the family for making the best sweet potato pie. She was a gifted cook who always had something homemade in the freezer — a quiet way she cared for the people she loved.

As an aunt, she was cherished by her ten nieces and nephews, who will remember her listening ear, her encouragement, and the comfort of her consistent love. Bettie Jean’s legacy lives on in the family she nurtured, the lives she touched, and the countless small acts of care that defined her life. Her family will continue to remember and share the many stories, moments, and memories that shaped her life and legacy.

She was preceded in death by her son, Joseph (JoJo) Sanders; sister Alice Bynum Richardson, youngest sister, Jackqueline Anthony and sister-in-law Dorothy Jean Sanders. She leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter, Gladys Marie Jones; granddaughter, Christine, three great grandchildren; her brothers Harold Sanders (Goldye), Maurice Sanders, Billy Barnes, and Larry Barnes; her sister Katie Barnes-Schine; along with a host of nieces, nephews and family friends.