Bettye Richmond

Bettye Jones Richmond was born in Belzoni, Mississippi on March 2, 1948. She was the eldest child of the late Lela B. Jones and Willie H. Smith.

Bettye attended McNair Elementary School in Belzoni, Mississippiand later relocated to Chicago, Illinoiswhere she attended Calhoun Elementary.  Bettye went on to be a Mighty Commando at John Marshall High School and was a graduate of the class of 1967. Bettye, being a natural caregiver, sought a career in nursing. Upon graduating from nursing school in 1968, she was employed with the Cook County Board of Health and Rush Presbyterian Hospital.

Seeking a career change, Bettye was hired on with the Chicago Transit Authority August 12, 1974 as a bus operator and became the first female bus loader in 1975. Bettye retired from Chicago Transit Authority August 2, 2006.

Bettye confessed her life to Christ at Macedonia Baptist Church at a very early age. In 2001 she joined United Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Wilson Daniels where she was a faithful member of the Senior Usher Board and Sunday School Class number fourteen until her health failed. She was anavid worker of the community and church, ensuring her presence was felt and contributions made at every event. Being such a supporter of Christ, Bettye was a regular contributor of the Women’s Ministry (Women’s Retreat), Taste of United, Food Pantry and the UBC Scholarship Fund. Her greatest joy came with spearheading and contributing to the purchase and installation of the Churches Digital Sign. 

Bettye loved to cook, travel and spend time with family. She was a diligent worker for Christ and her children, Timothy and Traci. Bettye made her transition on July 20, 2019 at home.

She is preceded in death by her father, Willie H. Smith; her mother, Lela B. Jones; her son, Timothy Bliey; her sister, Cynthia Johnson; three nephews, Raymond Perry Jr, Kenneth Jones and Robert Johnson IV; and one niece, LaToya Johnson

Bettye leaves to cherish her memories: a loving daughter, Traci Jones; four grandchildren, Chanel (Bruce) Brown, Kendall Thomas, Taelor Jones and Triniti Parker; two great grandchildren, Alex Brown and Nicholas Brown; Bonus daughter, Shanee Rucker;  Favorite Nephew, Rodney (Sonya)Quinn of Calumet City, Illinois; four sisters, Creabessie (Cornelius)Dixon, Patricia Quinn, Agnes (Raymond) Perry of Bellwood, Illinois and Pamelia (Johnathan) Johnson of Houston, Texas; one brother Don Jones; three nieces, Karla Lyons, Tricina Quinn, Tabitha Lowery; four nephews, JaMaris Ealy, Andre Johnson of Houston Texas, Corey Johnson of Houston Texas and Brandon Perry of Elmhurst, Illinois; eleven great nephews; eight great nieces; one aunt; Mary Ella Jones of St. Louis, Missouri; special brother-in-law, Randolph Quinn; the entire SMITH Family;  best friends, Beverly Roberts and Lydia Lewis of Marianna, Arkansas; and a host of God children, cousins and lifetime friends.

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