Betty J. Briggs

Betty Jo Briggs, a loving mother, community volunteer and longtime public-school educator, has passed away after a 10-month illness. She was 92.

Betty was born in 1926 and raised in Abilene, Texas. She moved to Midland in 1952 with her husband, Charles F. Briggs, and then to San Antonio in 1963.

In San Antonio, she raised four boys and worked for 28 years as a teacher in the North East Independent School District. Betty taught school at Dellview Elementary and at Eisenhower and Bradley middle schools before she retired in 1991.

Services

Services will be held on Friday, Oct. 4, at 11 a.m. at in the Chapel of Mausoleum II at Sunset Memorial Park, 1701 Austin Highway, San Antonio.

Betty’s Family

The former Betty Jo Daniel is preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Marian Daniel, and a sister, Nancy Howze. She is survived by four sons, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Her sons are Rob Briggs and his wife, Julia; Jerry Briggs and his wife, Paula; Michael Briggs and his wife A.J.; and Richard Briggs. All live in San Antonio, except for Michael and A.J., of Odessa, Mo.

Betty Briggs’ family also includes a former daughter-in-law, Patricia Briggs, of New Braunfels.

Grandchildren are Daniel Briggs of Dallas, Charles Fielden Briggs of San Antonio; Matthew Briggs and his wife, Lori, of Austin; Elizabeth Briggs of Houston; and Timothy Briggs of New Braunfels. Step-grandchildren are Amber and Laura Soerries, of Odessa, Mo.

A great grandson is Kenny Briggs of Austin.

Leaving a Legacy

Betty’s parents, Clyde and Marian Daniel, were Southern Baptists who worked in tandem to sell insurance in West Texas. Marian, known to her grandchildren as 'Nanny,' loved to garden.

As the couple’s oldest child, Betty attended Abilene public schools and Hardin-Simmons University. At Hardin-Simmons, she played alto sax in the World Famous Cowboy Band.

In San Antonio, Betty flourished as a teacher and as a mother. She loved her teaching jobs in the NEISD, but, most of all, she loved her four boys.

No. 1 on her priority list was making sure all of them understood the importance of academics.

At the same time, she also encouraged extra-curricular activities, which included fishing on area lakes, playing Little League baseball and, later, traveling in support of the Lee High School football team.

Betty’s devotion to her children evolved into years of community service with the Towne and Country Optimist Little League. Rob, Jerry, Michael and Richard all played in the league from the 1960s through the early 1970s. To kick off each season, she served as an administrator in the registration and team-tryout process. During games, held on ball fields at the corner of Basse Road and McCullough Ave., she was a fixture in the concession stand, serving up hot dogs, soft drinks and icy snow cones.

Even after all her work in education and in youth athletics, Betty will be remembered most vividly by her children as a dedicated mom. She was a focused disciplinarian who stressed personal accountability. At the same time, her boys always felt they had the freedom to pursue their own interests. When they succeeded, she cheered. When they stumbled, she remained steadfastly in their corner. No matter, they always felt good when it was time to come home.

Special Thanks

Thanks go out to Linda Granado (of Linda’s Personal Care Home) for her love, patience and professionalism as Betty’s caretaker over the past six months.

Also, the family extends special thanks to Rob and Julia Briggs for devoting so much time and attention to Betty’s well-being in the last few years of her remarkable life.

Donations

Memorial donations can be made in Betty’s name to the Animal Defense League of San Antonio, 11300 Nacogdoches Road, San Antonio, Tex., 78217 or at www.adltexas.org.