Betty Jean Withers Harper, 83, of Tifton passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at her residence. Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 10, 2019, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Jimmy Stone officiating. Mrs. Harper will be laid to rest at Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery in Tifton. The family will receive friends Thursday, May 9, 2019, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Bobby Blanchard, Bubba Blanchard, Cory Gray, Johnny Boyd, Toby Johnson and Brandon Sutton will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Tyson Craig, Chip Amerson, Taylor Mothershed, Josh Selph, Terry Cook, Nick Craig and Michael Gray.
Born December 23, 1935 in Tift County, Mrs. Harper was the daughter of the late Jack Withers and Fannie Futch Withers. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Henry Leon Harper; one son, William “Bimbo” Harper; one daughter, Paulette Blanchard; two brothers, Curtis Withers and Robert “Bug” Withers; and one sister, Pauline Tucker. Before retiring, she was employed as a winder at Avondale Mills and was of the Baptist faith. She loved watching her favorite TV shows and she loved her pets, Peanut and Dolly Mae.
Mrs. Harper is survived by her children and their spouse, Trisha and Steve Landers and Dale Harper and Janet Boyd; a son-in-law and daughter-in-law, Donnie and Elaine Blanchard; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Sarah Ledford, Delores and Vick Stone and Juanita and Harmon Tawzer; special friends, Phillis Harvey and Joyce Jackson; and lots of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.