Betty was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, on May 5, 1949, to Mr. Melvin Parker Walden and Mrs. Sara Laverne Simpson Walden.
To know Betty was to know how deeply she loved her family, but also to know her unmistakable personality. She was spunky, quick-witted, and never one to leave you wondering what was on her mind because she would happily tell you herself. She had a way of saying exactly what she thought, often with a quick remark that could leave everyone around her laughing. That spark was simply part of Betty, and it remained with her throughout her life.
Behind that spunk was an incredibly loving and giving heart. Betty showed her love by taking care of people, making sure everyone had what they needed, and simply being there. She was strong, hard-working, selfless, and fiercely devoted to the people she loved. She never needed recognition for the things she did for others. Caring for her family was simply part of who she was.
Some of the sweetest memories of Betty were made gathered around her table. She loved to cook, and her Thanksgiving dressing was something her family looked forward to every year. She found happiness in a full house, familiar faces, good food, and having the people she loved all together in one place.
Christmas was especially dear to Betty’s heart. Her annual Christmas party was more than a tradition; it was one of the ways she brought everyone together. She loved the excitement of the season, preparing for everyone to come over, and making Christmas feel special for her family. Those gatherings became the kind of memories that will continue to be talked about and treasured for years to come.
Above everything else, though, Betty loved her family. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were the heart of her world, and some of her happiest moments were the ordinary ones spent with them. Her family will remember her not only for the things she did, but for the way she made home feel like home. Her love lives on in the traditions she created, the meals she made, the laughter she brought, the stories that will continue to be told, and in the generations of family she loved so dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her best friend and sister, Margaret Norman; her beloved husband, Paul Harmen Nobriga III, who her family knows welcomed her with open arms; and her little brother, Robert Walden.
Betty is survived by her sons, Bartley Bowen, Brock Bowen (Kristi), and Paul H. “Noby” Nobriga IV; her daughter, Teynaum Michelle Bowen (William Lovelock); her sister, Shirley Shelton; her grandchildren, Laney (John), Peyton (Kiefer), Gabby (Jared), Jackson, Dr. Reece Bowen, and Ash (Lili); and her great-grandchildren, Jesse, Foster, Vedder, Nolan, Forrest, Theo, and Nina.
The family will receive friends at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl, Mississippi, on September 17, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. A graveside service will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Pearl, Mississippi
