Betty Ann Jenkins Whitley of St. Petersburg, Florida passed away in Winter Haven, Florida on Friday, February 8 at the age of 78.
Betty was born in Neptune, Cheatham County, Tennessee on June 1, 1934 the third child of seven born to Bertie Jane Reeves and Leamon W. Jenkins. She lived in the Clarksville, Tennessee area for the first 39 years of her life and the last 39 years in St. Petersburg, Florida. She worked as a skilled technician for 25 years making laser surgery devices. She was a member of First Church of the Nazarene in Clarksville and St. Petersburg and, most recently, Cornerstone Free Methodist Church in St. Petersburg.
Betty is lovingly remembered by her children Ricky (Sue) Glisson of St. Petersburg, Florida; Janice (Clint) Walker of Temple, Texas; Jeffrey (Julie) Glisson of Winter Haven, Florida; her grandchildren Matthew Glisson of Carthage, New York; Clinton Walker IV of Austin, Texas; Jonathan Walker of Temple, Texas; Tyler Glisson of Winter Haven, Florida; and Alex Glisson of Winter Haven, Florida; her siblings Porter (Janelle) Jenkins of Clarksville, Tennessee; Blondelle Anderson of Waldorf, MD; Ruby (Ray) Blankenship of New Johnsonville, Tennessee; David (Susan) Jenkins of Clarksville, Tennessee; and Katherine (Lewis) Brown of Hopewell, Virginia; her dearest friend and travelling companion Christa Cheek of St. Petersburg, Florida; and her beloved church family at Cornerstone Free Methodist in St. Petersburg where she was a door greeter and volunteer gardener. Betty was predeceased by her first husband of 17 years Byron Glisson; and her second husband of 20 years Ray Whitley and an infant brother Kenneth Jenkins.
A private family graveside service will be held at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Clarksville, Tennessee on Tuesday, February 12, 2013. Arrangements entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040. Online condolences may be made at www.neal-tarpley.com