Betty was raised in the Fairmont, North Birmingham, and Ensley neighborhoods. She attended North Birmingham Elementary (and later returned after college to teach with some of her former teachers) and graduated from Ensley High School. She attended Judson College, Birmingham Southern College and graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor's Degree. She received a Master's Degree and AA Degree from UAB and she was able to attend school while she raised three children while working full time as well as cooking breakfast and dinner for her family and going to school at night. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Social Sorority and the Delta Kappa Gama Professional Teachers Sorority.
Betty was married to the love of her life, Jennings M. "Jinx" Barganier, Sr on May 11, 1946 until his death on October 14, 1994. She taught school for many years and became one of the first grammar school counselors in the City of Birmingham School System where she retired after many years of service. Her favorite job after retirement was serving as a Candy Striper at Children's Hospital were she got to rock preemies with her best friend Carolin Pate. Betty was lovingly referred to as Bebe after she had grandchildren by her family and close friends.
Betty was a former member of 35th Avenue Baptist Church in North Birmingham, then Gardendale First Baptist Church, and currently a member at First Baptist Church of Prattville.
Bebe was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Edwin and Ruby Barton Pass, her loving husband, Jennings M. "Jinx" Barganier, Sr., her siblings, Ralph (Margaret Ann) Pass, Edwina (Fred) Johns and Sarah (Jerry) Sims.
Bebe is survived by her three children, Linda (Buddy) Buckner, Kathy (Dan) Mikos, Jennings M. "Chip" (Susie) Barganier, Jr.; five grandchildren, Kristi (Clay) Cook, Greg (Holly) Mikos, Michael (Laura) Mikos, Mackey Rich and Katherine (Miller) Heath; eight great grandchildren, Buck, Brett, Ansley, Griffin, Jackson, Jennings, Katie, and Alice, and several other family members and a host of friends.
One of our favorite stories is while she was driving to school one morning, she approached some school age children. One of them threw a rock and broke her windshield. Rather than speed away she slammed on the brakes, got out of the car and got each of their names and told the kids once they got to school to just go to the principals office. She would be waiting there. (There was no contract out on Bebe - one of the kids was egged on by the others to do it.)
Her son and daughters were always proud of their mother.
A visitation for Betty will be held Saturday, January 22, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Ridout's Gardendale Chapel, 2029 Decatur Highway, Gardendale, AL 35071, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM. Her burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Gardens, Gardendale, AL.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsgardendalechapel.com for the Barganier family.
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