Betty Ann Brady, 83, of Orlando, passed away June 14, 2019. She devoted her life to opening the imaginations of the children of Orlando to the wonders of reading. During her 34-year career in the Orange County Library System, she shared her love of reading with countless thousands of children both in the main library and its branches.
For a six-year period in the early 1970s, Betty was also the “Bookmobile Librarian,” traveling throughout the city and county into the neighborhoods, presenting children’s programs and encouraging strong reading habits, the key to education.
She was a longtime member of the American Library Association and also First Presbyterian Church of Orlando.
Two years after she retired, still feeling called in her vocation and in good health, she returned to work part-time at Maitland Public Library, a job she continued for another 10 years.
A native of Swampscott, Mass., Betty moved to Orlando in 1943, and lived her entire life here, nearly all in College Park and for the past 17 years at Westminster Towers. She attended Concord Park Elementary School, Memorial Junior High, and graduated from Edgewater Senior High in 1954.
Betty first attended Orlando Junior College, working part-time there and also at what was then known as Albertson Public Library to save money for her higher education. She then transferred to Florida State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in in Library Science in 1960.
Her first fulltime role was in the Children’s Department at the old Albertson Public Library building in downtown Orlando, later torn down to make way for what is now the Orlando Public Library. In 1961 she was given a leave to return to FSU to earn certification to work in school libraries.
She was a woman filled with gracious southern charm, deep spirituality, and a generous spirit. She was recently recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for 40 years of service promoting patriotic awareness and historic preservation; coincidentally she passed away on the Flag Day observance. In her retirement she volunteered at the Westminster Towers in-house library and driving residents to doctor appointments and shopping.
Betty came from a family of authors, librarians, teachers and avid readers. She was predeceased by her parents, Claren Leigh Brady and Mary Emily Abbott, and is survived by several cousins.
There is no viewing. A memorial service and a Celebration of Life "Story Time" will be conducted at 2 p.m., Wed., June 19 at Woodlawn Cemetery, Gotha, FL. In Lieu of Flowers, contributions can be made in Betty’s name to Friends of the Orange County Library System, 101 E Central Blvd., Orlando, FL 32801, or Westminster Retirement Communities Foundation in Florida, please change the address to:
80 W. Lucerne Circle, Orlando, FL 32801, or online at: makeagift.westminstercommunitiesfl.org
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