Janet Sybil Betz

Janet Sybil Wiggins Betz, known lovingly to her family as Nanny, passed from this life into the presence of her Lord on September 14, 2026, at her home in Coal City, Alabama. She was born on August 13, 1939, in Talladega, Alabama, and lived a life marked by service, faith, and an unshakable devotion to those she loved.

Janet was the daughter of Willie Wiggins and Jewell Wiggins, and she carried with her throughout her life the values instilled in her childhood. She grew into a woman of remarkable determination and intellect, one who saw her calling clearly and pursued it with unwavering commitment.

That calling was found in caring for others. Janet completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and earned her Registered Nurse's license. She devoted nearly four decades of her professional life to the demanding field of trauma care, serving as a charge nurse where her steady hands and clear mind brought comfort and healing to countless patients during their most vulnerable moments. Her service extended into places many would never venture, as she provided nursing care within several correctional facilities, including Birmingham Correctional Systems, offering dignity and compassion to those in need without regard for their circumstances. In the later years of her career, she turned her attention to the youth of Alabama, working with school systems across the state to care for children and young people.

Never content to rest on her accomplishments, Janet continued her education and her spiritual pursuits by earning both a Master's degree and a Doctorate in Christian Counseling. These achievements reflected the two great pillars of her life, her mind and her faith, working always in harmony to serve others.

Janet found her deepest joy in her church and in the fellowship of her church family. Being among the people she worshipped alongside brought her great happiness, and she gave generously of herself to her congregation and to the various Christian groups and causes she supported. In her quieter hours, she expressed her creativity through painting and rug-hooking, crafts that reflected the patience and care she brought to everything she touched.

Janet was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Neil Betz; her parents, Willie Wiggins and Jewell Wiggins; and her brother, Wendell Wiggins. She leaves behind a devoted family who will cherish her memory always. She is survived by her four daughters, Faith Symmons, Hope Thurman, Charity Bentley, and Joy Winkles. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Leah Wolfe, Joseph Brewer, John Michael Brewer, Timothy Symmons, Mary Catherine Symmons, Isaac Thurman, and Jeremiah Manning. Her love for each of them was boundless, and the lessons she taught by her example will continue to guide them for generations.

Janet's Homecoming Service will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at Kilgroe Funeral Home, 2219 2nd Avenue North, Pell City, Alabama 35125.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by the Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. Graveside services at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Pell City will begin immediately following the Funeral Service.

Officiating will be Billy Kennedy, Joe Brock, and Dale Foote.

Serving as pallbearers will be John Wayne Brewer, John Michael Brewer, Jeremiah Manning, Ethan Manning, Sawyer Manning, Weston Manning, Joseph Barksdale, and Isaac Thurman.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in the name of Janet Betz to Seddon Baptist Church, 4205 Cogswell Avenue, Pell City, Alabama 35125.

As a devout Christian, Janet lived her life under the shelter of her faith, and it is fitting to remember her with the words of Psalm 91, which spoke to the trust she placed in her Savior.

Now at rest in the arms of the Lord she served so faithfully, Janet leaves behind a legacy of compassion, wit, and unwavering devotion. She will be deeply missed and forever loved.