Bettye Chaffin, 73, of Decatur died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008, at her residence.
Mrs. Chaffin was born in 1934 in rural Morgan County to Joel T. and Lily Mae Sandlin. Part of a hardworking, Christian family of corn, cotton and dairy farmers, Bettye always said that her family was humble, but never poor. They made their own clothes, grew their own food and traded the fruits of their labors for the sundries and textiles that sustained them. One of five children, Bettye was the middle child and the first girl born to Joel and Lily Mae. Perhaps this is why Bettye was such a nurturing soul. Her sisters and brothers speak of their childhoods with her and remember her as wonderful a sister that they could always count on to dress them, feed them, protect them and make them warm. Throughout the years her devotion grew with the size of her family and her nieces and nephews would always find her available to celebrate successes, honor their individuality and love them unconditionally.
When Bettye was a senior at Priceville High School and preparing to graduate as Valedictorian of the Class of 1952, her family was contacted by a representative of J. Edgar Hoover from Washington, D.C. She had been selected from a group of elite high school seniors across the United States to participate in an FBI training program and was invited to go to Washington, D.C. to live and work for the FBI. When she turned 18, Bettye left Alabama for Washington and her brilliant mind was set to work. Her time with the FBI helping to sort, log and prepare evidence was an invaluable service to her country and she was humbly honored to have had the opportunity to serve in this way.
Bettye soon met the love of her life, Warren Mink, and they married and she bore him two children. During the early years of their marriage, Warren encouraged Bettye's professional endeavors, and the development of her incredible mind, and they decided she should work with IBM to become certified as a mainframe systems analyst and programmer. One of very few women to attempt such work, Bettye finished at the top of her class at IBM and began a long and distinguished career in computer programming.
The late 1960's were a time of racial unrest and political strife, and nowhere was this more evident than in Washington, D.C. So it was with happy hearts and much excitement that Bettye, Warren and their children returned to the peaceful Deep South, specifically to her family in Decatur. Once home, Bettye never again left Alabama for more than a business trip, and provided a beautiful life for her children.
She went to work for State National Bank and held an officer's position with them, even as they eventually became Central Bank. For a time, Bettye worked in Birmingham, but returned to Decatur following the death of Warren in 1972. Bettye's unwavering determination to provide a safe and loving home and life for her children was never more evident than during this difficult time in her life. Her children were spared much sorrow during this time as she gracefully and courageously faced young widowhood. Bettye was always grateful to her family and friends for gathering 'round her as she would gather them close during their trials as well.
Bettye later married Lowell C. Chaffin, continued her career and worked hard to prepare her children for adulthood. She was always a stern disciplinarian for her children and the guiding light that they could turn to, at any time, with any problem. This fierce love and dedication to her children never wavered at any time during her life. Her children always felt that their mother was their champion and protector, teacher and confidant. There could be nothing that would keep her from them or them from her. Her love was kind and true - a mother's love.
During the last 30 years of her life, Bettye would continue her career in computer programming, become a licensed Realtor, and work two full-time jobs. A highly respected programmer for Mutual Savings in Decatur, she sold real estate full-time during lunch hours, after work and on weekends. Divorced for several years, Bettye continued to dedicate herself to her sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews, her neighbors and friends. During the blessed last years of her own mother's life, she found time to join with her siblings in taking care of her mother so that Ms. Sandlin could stay at home for as long as possible. When it became necessary to find more care for her mother, Bettye and her family made sure that Ms. Sandlin would never spend a day in a nursing home without one of them present.
Even in the days just before her death, Bettye worked hard and remained dedicated to her son and daughter and their families. She managed in her weakened state to remain positive, funny and elegant. Her home was kept neat, her affairs were in order and her children told constantly how much she loved them. She even found the strength to send Christmas cards, gifts and decorate her home for the holidays.
Bettye was saved at Antioch Baptist Church as a young girl and always professed her love for the Lord and her absolute faith that Jesus Christ was her Savior. Bettye Chaffin was an example of grace and elegance, love and generosity of spirit and embodied the meaning of Christian charity. She was bright, funny, bold and full of humility. She was beloved.
She is survived by one son, Warren F. Mink of Trinity; one daughter, Elizabeth F. Assel of Los Angeles, Calif.; one brother, James K. Sandlin of Decatur; two sisters, Carole Warnick of Marion and Patricia Stewart of Lewisburg, Tenn.; three grandchildren; and one greatgrandchild.
Funeral will be Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008, at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home with Bro. Jerry Burns officiating.
Burial will be in Bishop Family Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Brian Assel, Michael Terry, Kelly Dutton, Adam Jones, Minor Brazier and Tim Willingham.
Honorary pallbearers will be Tommy Steward, James Sandlin and Larry Warnick.
Published in the Decatur Daily on 1/30/2008.
Mrs. Chaffin was born in 1934 in rural Morgan County to Joel T. and Lily Mae Sandlin. Part of a hardworking, Christian family of corn, cotton and dairy farmers, Bettye always said that her family was humble, but never poor. They made their own clothes, grew their own food and traded the fruits of their labors for the sundries and textiles that sustained them. One of five children, Bettye was the middle child and the first girl born to Joel and Lily Mae. Perhaps this is why Bettye was such a nurturing soul. Her sisters and brothers speak of their childhoods with her and remember her as wonderful a sister that they could always count on to dress them, feed them, protect them and make them warm. Throughout the years her devotion grew with the size of her family and her nieces and nephews would always find her available to celebrate successes, honor their individuality and love them unconditionally.
When Bettye was a senior at Priceville High School and preparing to graduate as Valedictorian of the Class of 1952, her family was contacted by a representative of J. Edgar Hoover from Washington, D.C. She had been selected from a group of elite high school seniors across the United States to participate in an FBI training program and was invited to go to Washington, D.C. to live and work for the FBI. When she turned 18, Bettye left Alabama for Washington and her brilliant mind was set to work. Her time with the FBI helping to sort, log and prepare evidence was an invaluable service to her country and she was humbly honored to have had the opportunity to serve in this way.
Bettye soon met the love of her life, Warren Mink, and they married and she bore him two children. During the early years of their marriage, Warren encouraged Bettye's professional endeavors, and the development of her incredible mind, and they decided she should work with IBM to become certified as a mainframe systems analyst and programmer. One of very few women to attempt such work, Bettye finished at the top of her class at IBM and began a long and distinguished career in computer programming.
The late 1960's were a time of racial unrest and political strife, and nowhere was this more evident than in Washington, D.C. So it was with happy hearts and much excitement that Bettye, Warren and their children returned to the peaceful Deep South, specifically to her family in Decatur. Once home, Bettye never again left Alabama for more than a business trip, and provided a beautiful life for her children.
She went to work for State National Bank and held an officer's position with them, even as they eventually became Central Bank. For a time, Bettye worked in Birmingham, but returned to Decatur following the death of Warren in 1972. Bettye's unwavering determination to provide a safe and loving home and life for her children was never more evident than during this difficult time in her life. Her children were spared much sorrow during this time as she gracefully and courageously faced young widowhood. Bettye was always grateful to her family and friends for gathering 'round her as she would gather them close during their trials as well.
Bettye later married Lowell C. Chaffin, continued her career and worked hard to prepare her children for adulthood. She was always a stern disciplinarian for her children and the guiding light that they could turn to, at any time, with any problem. This fierce love and dedication to her children never wavered at any time during her life. Her children always felt that their mother was their champion and protector, teacher and confidant. There could be nothing that would keep her from them or them from her. Her love was kind and true - a mother's love.
During the last 30 years of her life, Bettye would continue her career in computer programming, become a licensed Realtor, and work two full-time jobs. A highly respected programmer for Mutual Savings in Decatur, she sold real estate full-time during lunch hours, after work and on weekends. Divorced for several years, Bettye continued to dedicate herself to her sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews, her neighbors and friends. During the blessed last years of her own mother's life, she found time to join with her siblings in taking care of her mother so that Ms. Sandlin could stay at home for as long as possible. When it became necessary to find more care for her mother, Bettye and her family made sure that Ms. Sandlin would never spend a day in a nursing home without one of them present.
Even in the days just before her death, Bettye worked hard and remained dedicated to her son and daughter and their families. She managed in her weakened state to remain positive, funny and elegant. Her home was kept neat, her affairs were in order and her children told constantly how much she loved them. She even found the strength to send Christmas cards, gifts and decorate her home for the holidays.
Bettye was saved at Antioch Baptist Church as a young girl and always professed her love for the Lord and her absolute faith that Jesus Christ was her Savior. Bettye Chaffin was an example of grace and elegance, love and generosity of spirit and embodied the meaning of Christian charity. She was bright, funny, bold and full of humility. She was beloved.
She is survived by one son, Warren F. Mink of Trinity; one daughter, Elizabeth F. Assel of Los Angeles, Calif.; one brother, James K. Sandlin of Decatur; two sisters, Carole Warnick of Marion and Patricia Stewart of Lewisburg, Tenn.; three grandchildren; and one greatgrandchild.
Funeral will be Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008, at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home with Bro. Jerry Burns officiating.
Burial will be in Bishop Family Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Brian Assel, Michael Terry, Kelly Dutton, Adam Jones, Minor Brazier and Tim Willingham.
Honorary pallbearers will be Tommy Steward, James Sandlin and Larry Warnick.
Published in the Decatur Daily on 1/30/2008.
Bettye Chaffin, 73, of Decatur died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008, at her residence.
Mrs. Chaffin was born in 1934 in rural Morgan County to Joel T. and Lily Mae Sandlin. Part of a hardworking, Christian family of corn, cotton and dairy farmers, Bettye always said that her family was humble, but never poor. They made their own clothes, grew their own food and traded the fruits of their labors for the sundries and textiles that sustained them. One of five children, Bettye was the middle child and the first girl born to Joel and Lily Mae. Perhaps this is why Bettye was such a nurturing soul. Her sisters and brothers speak of their childhoods with her and remember her as wonderful a sister that they could always count on to dress them, feed them, protect them and make them warm. Throughout the years her devotion grew with the size of her family and her nieces and nephews would always find her available to celebrate successes, honor their individuality and love them unconditionally.
When Bettye was a senior at Priceville High School and preparing to graduate as Valedictorian of the Class of 1952, her family was contacted by a representative of J. Edgar Hoover from Washington, D.C. She had been selected from a group of elite high school seniors across the United States to participate in an FBI training program and was invited to go to Washington, D.C. to live and work for the FBI. When she turned 18, Bettye left Alabama for Washington and her brilliant mind was set to work. Her time with the FBI helping to sort, log and prepare evidence was an invaluable service to her country and she was humbly honored to have had the opportunity to serve in this way.
Bettye soon met the love of her life, Warren Mink, and they married and she bore him two children. During the early years of their marriage, Warren encouraged Bettye's professional endeavors, and the development of her incredible mind, and they decided she should work with IBM to become certified as a mainframe systems analyst and programmer. One of very few women to attempt such work, Bettye finished at the top of her class at IBM and began a long and distinguished career in computer programming.
The late 1960's were a time of racial unrest and political strife, and nowhere was this more evident than in Washington, D.C. So it was with happy hearts and much excitement that Bettye, Warren and their children returned to the peaceful Deep South, specifically to her family in Decatur. Once home, Bettye never again left Alabama for more than a business trip, and provided a beautiful life for her children.
She went to work for State National Bank and held an officer's position with them, even as they eventually became Central Bank. For a time, Bettye worked in Birmingham, but returned to Decatur following the death of Warren in 1972. Bettye's unwavering determination to provide a safe and loving home and life for her children was never more evident than during this difficult time in her life. Her children were spared much sorrow during this time as she gracefully and courageously faced young widowhood. Bettye was always grateful to her family and friends for gathering 'round her as she would gather them close during their trials as well.
Bettye later married Lowell C. Chaffin, continued her career and worked hard to prepare her children for adulthood. She was always a stern disciplinarian for her children and the guiding light that they could turn to, at any time, with any problem. This fierce love and dedication to her children never wavered at any time during her life. Her children always felt that their mother was their champion and protector, teacher and confidant. There could be nothing that would keep her from them or them from her. Her love was kind and true - a mother's love.
During the last 30 years of her life, Bettye would continue her career in computer programming, become a licensed Realtor, and work two full-time jobs. A highly respected programmer for Mutual Savings in Decatur, she sold real estate full-time during lunch hours, after work and on weekends. Divorced for several years, Bettye continued to dedicate herself to her sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews, her neighbors and friends. During the blessed last years of her own mother's life, she found time to join with her siblings in taking care of her mother so that Ms. Sandlin could stay at home for as long as possible. When it became necessary to find more care for her mother, Bettye and her family made sure that Ms. Sandlin would never spend a day in a nursing home without one of them present.
Even in the days just before her death, Bettye worked hard and remained dedicated to her son and daughter and their families. She managed in her weakened state to remain positive, funny and elegant. Her home was kept neat, her affairs were in order and her children told constantly how much she loved them. She even found the strength to send Christmas cards, gifts and decorate her home for the holidays.
Bettye was saved at Antioch Baptist Church as a young girl and always professed her love for the Lord and her absolute faith that Jesus Christ was her Savior. Bettye Chaffin was an example of grace and elegance, love and generosity of spirit and embodied the meaning of Christian charity. She was bright, funny, bold and full of humility. She was beloved.
She is survived by one son, Warren F. Mink of Trinity; one daughter, Elizabeth F. Assel of Los Angeles, Calif.; one brother, James K. Sandlin of Decatur; two sisters, Carole Warnick of Marion and Patricia Stewart of Lewisburg, Tenn.; three grandchildren; and one greatgrandchild.
Funeral will be Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008, at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home with Bro. Jerry Burns officiating.
Burial will be in Bishop Family Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Brian Assel, Michael Terry, Kelly Dutton, Adam Jones, Minor Brazier and Tim Willingham.
Honorary pallbearers will be Tommy Steward, James Sandlin and Larry Warnick.
Published in the Decatur Daily on 1/30/2008.
Mrs. Chaffin was born in 1934 in rural Morgan County to Joel T. and Lily Mae Sandlin. Part of a hardworking, Christian family of corn, cotton and dairy farmers, Bettye always said that her family was humble, but never poor. They made their own clothes, grew their own food and traded the fruits of their labors for the sundries and textiles that sustained them. One of five children, Bettye was the middle child and the first girl born to Joel and Lily Mae. Perhaps this is why Bettye was such a nurturing soul. Her sisters and brothers speak of their childhoods with her and remember her as wonderful a sister that they could always count on to dress them, feed them, protect them and make them warm. Throughout the years her devotion grew with the size of her family and her nieces and nephews would always find her available to celebrate successes, honor their individuality and love them unconditionally.
When Bettye was a senior at Priceville High School and preparing to graduate as Valedictorian of the Class of 1952, her family was contacted by a representative of J. Edgar Hoover from Washington, D.C. She had been selected from a group of elite high school seniors across the United States to participate in an FBI training program and was invited to go to Washington, D.C. to live and work for the FBI. When she turned 18, Bettye left Alabama for Washington and her brilliant mind was set to work. Her time with the FBI helping to sort, log and prepare evidence was an invaluable service to her country and she was humbly honored to have had the opportunity to serve in this way.
Bettye soon met the love of her life, Warren Mink, and they married and she bore him two children. During the early years of their marriage, Warren encouraged Bettye's professional endeavors, and the development of her incredible mind, and they decided she should work with IBM to become certified as a mainframe systems analyst and programmer. One of very few women to attempt such work, Bettye finished at the top of her class at IBM and began a long and distinguished career in computer programming.
The late 1960's were a time of racial unrest and political strife, and nowhere was this more evident than in Washington, D.C. So it was with happy hearts and much excitement that Bettye, Warren and their children returned to the peaceful Deep South, specifically to her family in Decatur. Once home, Bettye never again left Alabama for more than a business trip, and provided a beautiful life for her children.
She went to work for State National Bank and held an officer's position with them, even as they eventually became Central Bank. For a time, Bettye worked in Birmingham, but returned to Decatur following the death of Warren in 1972. Bettye's unwavering determination to provide a safe and loving home and life for her children was never more evident than during this difficult time in her life. Her children were spared much sorrow during this time as she gracefully and courageously faced young widowhood. Bettye was always grateful to her family and friends for gathering 'round her as she would gather them close during their trials as well.
Bettye later married Lowell C. Chaffin, continued her career and worked hard to prepare her children for adulthood. She was always a stern disciplinarian for her children and the guiding light that they could turn to, at any time, with any problem. This fierce love and dedication to her children never wavered at any time during her life. Her children always felt that their mother was their champion and protector, teacher and confidant. There could be nothing that would keep her from them or them from her. Her love was kind and true - a mother's love.
During the last 30 years of her life, Bettye would continue her career in computer programming, become a licensed Realtor, and work two full-time jobs. A highly respected programmer for Mutual Savings in Decatur, she sold real estate full-time during lunch hours, after work and on weekends. Divorced for several years, Bettye continued to dedicate herself to her sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews, her neighbors and friends. During the blessed last years of her own mother's life, she found time to join with her siblings in taking care of her mother so that Ms. Sandlin could stay at home for as long as possible. When it became necessary to find more care for her mother, Bettye and her family made sure that Ms. Sandlin would never spend a day in a nursing home without one of them present.
Even in the days just before her death, Bettye worked hard and remained dedicated to her son and daughter and their families. She managed in her weakened state to remain positive, funny and elegant. Her home was kept neat, her affairs were in order and her children told constantly how much she loved them. She even found the strength to send Christmas cards, gifts and decorate her home for the holidays.
Bettye was saved at Antioch Baptist Church as a young girl and always professed her love for the Lord and her absolute faith that Jesus Christ was her Savior. Bettye Chaffin was an example of grace and elegance, love and generosity of spirit and embodied the meaning of Christian charity. She was bright, funny, bold and full of humility. She was beloved.
She is survived by one son, Warren F. Mink of Trinity; one daughter, Elizabeth F. Assel of Los Angeles, Calif.; one brother, James K. Sandlin of Decatur; two sisters, Carole Warnick of Marion and Patricia Stewart of Lewisburg, Tenn.; three grandchildren; and one greatgrandchild.
Funeral will be Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008, at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home with Bro. Jerry Burns officiating.
Burial will be in Bishop Family Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Brian Assel, Michael Terry, Kelly Dutton, Adam Jones, Minor Brazier and Tim Willingham.
Honorary pallbearers will be Tommy Steward, James Sandlin and Larry Warnick.
Published in the Decatur Daily on 1/30/2008.
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