Bettie Foster Cozart

Bettie Foster Cozart died peacefully at her home in Columbia, South Carolina on June 7, 2026, at the age of 95. She was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on October 24, 1930. Her family home was in Bluffton “Fleahop”, Georgia. Most of her childhood and teenage years were spent in Bluffton.

She was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Thomas W. Cozart, Jr., her father, Karl W. Foster, her mother, Helen E. Harrison, and her brothers, Ralph H. Foster and W. Frederick Foster. Surviving family include her children: Vicki Cozart Bowles, Thomas K. Cozart (Lois), W. Keith Cozart (Carla), and Ralph F. Cozart. She has many beloved grandchildren: Lauren Harring (Cody), Jonathan Bowles (Paige), Rebecca Higgins (Joseph), Andrew Cozart (Jessica), Ashley Hendricks (Justin), Foster Cozart, Harrison Cozart (Kathleen), and Gabrielle Liang (Kenneth), and Cassidy Fortier; and great-grandchildren: Bennett, Allaire, Henderson, Abbie, Brady, Axel, Aden, Joey, Cadence, Beckett, and Cassian. She is also survived by her niece Sue Foster, her great-nephew William Foster (Nicole), and great-niece Casey Tracy (Mike), and many beloved great-great nieces and nephews, and cousins Kay Reed and Colby Aiken.

Bettie gave her life to Christ as a child and had fond memories of walking down the aisle and kneeling at the altar to become a member of God’s kingdom. Bettie was a devoted member of Rose Hill Presbyterian Church for over 60 years where she enjoyed the fellowship of many saints. She served as a Sunday school teacher, nursery volunteer, Vacation Bible School teacher and director; she was a member of the Women in the Church Council, and she participated in Circle and many bible studies. She loved her church and was utterly devoted to serving her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by serving Rose Hill. She also served Jesus by going on a mission trip to Peru.

Anyone who spent any time with Bettie can picture her at the breakfast table studying her bible and reading many, many devotionals every morning. She had a true passion for God’s word. Her bibles are bejeweled with notes and prayers for her family and friends and the very last verse she worked on memorizing was Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

Bettie was a phenomenal teacher for 40 years, and she is well-loved, and fondly remembered by students to this day. She attended college at Georgia State College for Women and graduated from the University of Georgia. She spent the majority of her career teaching Fifth grade students at Caughman Road Elementary School where her legendary Renaissance Festivals encompassing the entire staff and student body are still the topic of joy and comprehensive learning that she designed them to be.

After retirement she enjoyed traveling the world with her daughter and her dear friends. She visited Ireland, Prague, Italy, and New England. She also lived for a short period in California and the Azores islands during her husband’s military career.

In her words, “I am not in any hurry to get there,” but she was anticipating being with her beloved Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ and the joyous reunion she is experiencing in heaven with all of her family and friends who have predeceased her, and her greatest wish is for ALL of her family and friends to eventually join her there.

The visitation for Bettie Cozart will be at 9:30 Saturday morning on June 13, 2026 at Rose Hill Presbyterian Church, 229 S. Saluda Avenue, Columbia, South Carolina. The funeral will follow at 10:30 a.m. Bettie’s earthly remains will then be interred at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, South Carolina.

Memorials may be made in Bettie’s memory to Rose Hill Presbyterian Church.