Betty Jean Smith was born in Houston, Texas, to Bessie and Manford Smith on August 11, 1962. Betty was raised in Slocomb, Alabama. She later moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, and spent over 30 years there before moving to Panama City Beach, Florida in 2019. Betty passed away peacefully at home on June 29, 2021 at 1:18 p.m. with her family and friends by her side.
The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. till the service starts on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at Obert Funeral Home in Chipley, Florida (850-638-2122 or www.obertfuneralhome.com).
The funeral service will be held at 12 noon on July 10, 2021 at the funeral home chapel with Timothy Cook officiating. Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery (183 Pleasant Hill Road, Slocomb, Alabama) with LIL Drew Mendoza, Billy Sevin, Ronnie Sevin III, Andy Mendoza, Kasen Mendoza, and Joshua Sevin serving as active pallbearers.
Honorable pallbearers are Masen Mendoza, Toby Mendoza, Derrick Kollatt, and Stacy McDaniel, Jr.
Betty leaves behind her lifelong companion of 33 years, Rene Mendoza; a daughter: Danielle Mendoza; a brother: Don Smith (Inez); two brother in laws: Andrew Mendoza and Tucker Mendoza; a family pet: Cuddles; two of her lifelong best friends: Shari Latzke and Chris Erving; along with a host of nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, and friends/co-workers.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Bessie and Manford Smith; grandparents: William and Vera Jones; in laws: Marilyn and Anthony Mendoza; nephew: Harold Mendoza; a brother in law: Tony Mendoza.