Betty Lee Williams

Betty Lee Williams transitioned peacefully from her earthly life with the love of her family surrounding her on Thursday morning, January 18, 2024. She was 74 years old.

Born in Bastrop, Texas on May 10, 1949, Betty Jo Lee was the third oldest of five children born to Thomas “TC” Lee and Edna “Pitt” Lee. At an early age, Betty accepted Christ and was a faithful member of Mt. Rose Missionary Baptist Church in Bastrop, Texas until her passing.

In her youth, Betty attended schools in the Bastrop Independent School District. While in school, she was an active student participating in various activities including basketball. She began her high school years at Emile high school and later transferred to Bastrop High School, graduating with the class of 1967.

After high school, Betty went on to continue her education at Nixon Clay Business College in Austin, with a focus on Shorthand and Accounting. Later, she united with Clarence Williams, Jr. Clarence was the love of Betty’s life, and there was no doubt he loved her for her gorgeous figure, fashionable appearance (it was rare to see her without pearls), and her feisty personality- he could not let her get away! On April 4, 1970, Clarence and Betty were married, and to their union two daughters were born. Betty adored her husband as well, and they remained happily married for nearly 48 years before his passing in 2018.

After college and their move to Austin, Betty began working for the Texas Employment Commission. Throughout the course of her career, she worked professionally to advance and eventually received promotion to the position of Supervisor in TEC’s Comptroller’s Division. She was extremely proud of this accomplishment and continued to serve in this capacity until her retirement in the summer of 1998.

Immediately following her retirement, Betty continued to keep busy, and went on to become a Lead Tax Preparer and Office Manager for Jackson Hewitt for almost 25 years. In her time with Jackson Hewitt, she trained, developed and mentored countless new tax preparers, and received numerous awards and recognition for her branch location’s success. She also proudly served as the Financial Secretary for her church for more than 20 years.

Betty had a love for the sport of bowling. In the late 1970s, she started bowling in many leagues and tournaments and she regularly traveled to and from various cities and states competing. She served many years at the local and state levels as the secretary of the Austin Women’s Bowling Association, the Youth Alliance Bowling Association, and the United States Bowling Congress. She was also instrumental in starting the Greater Austin Senate for The National Bowling Association (formerly known as The Negro Bowling Association), where she was a member of the Executive Board, serving as its first secretary and holding that position for more than 20 years.

Betty enjoyed several pastimes, including watching Dallas Cowboys football and professional tennis - she specifically enjoyed watching and cheering for her favorite athletes. In addition, she loved a good game of spades and dominoes, and was especially good “talking smack” to her opponents. She was also known for enjoying a good glass of box wine.

No one will ever be able to deny the love Betty had for her family. Affectionately known as “Betty Jo” by those closest to her, she leaves behind a legacy of selfless strength and courage - always putting her family first, proudly raising and passing on her life’s wisdom to her daughters and her granddaughters. Betty’s spirit, love and energy will forever be remembered and cherished by all who knew and loved her.

Betty is preceded in death by her father, Thomas “TC” Lee, her mother, Edna “Pitt” Lee, her sister Stella Mae Lee, and her brother Lawrence Ray Lee.

She leaves to cherish her memories her daughters, Chantal Williams, and LaToya Williams-Hall (Fabian); her stepdaughter, Tonya Hunter; five grandchildren, Sydney

Williams, Whitney Williams, Britney Williams, Kalesia Calhoun, Mykul Hunter; two

step-grandsons, Jaiden and Adrian Hall; one great granddaughter, Naomi Wallace, and

one-great grandson, Mykul Hunter, Jr. Also left to cherish precious memories are her brothers, Charles Lewis Lee and Robert Earl Lee (Diane); her aunts, Addie Mae Stewart and Faye Chase; her brothers-in-law Charles Williams (Dee), Garwood Williams (Bobbie), Charles Haywood, Timmy Rector, Darnell Washington (Esther), Johnnie Lee Washington (Louanna), Louis Ray Washington, Sr., Brian Washington, Sr., (Ruthie); her sisters-in-law Ellen Portis (Kenneth), Wilma Moore, Lillian Fisher (Van), Alicia Beck (David), Margie Arnold, Joyce Ann Torrence, Patricia Washington- Phillips, Sharon Washington, Roxanne Washington, Cynthia Washington, Gloria Washington, Diane Williams, Wanda Lee and Ruth Washington, and a hosts of relatives and friends.