A memorial service for Bettyann Weilenman of Stoneville will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Greenville on Friday, March 23 at 11:00 a.m. under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Leland. She died on March 19, 2012 following a brief illness.
Bettyann was an eager world traveler, avid reader, delightful companion, charming southern Christian lady, treasured friend and devoted wife, mother and grandmother.
She was born on October 5, 1928 in Memphis to Crawford and Irene Williams and moved at age three to Greenville. She graduated from Greenville High School in 1946 and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Millsaps College in 1950.
She married Edwin Poteat Turner of Jackson in 1951. He was listed as missing in action during a combat mission in Korea in 1953 and later declared dead. She and Turner had one daughter, Ellen Turner Walker.
Following his death she was employed at the Washington County Welfare Department in social services.
She married Bill Weilenman on November 20, 1954. The couple and Ellen moved to Stoneville in 1955 and began raising a family that grew to five children. She worked with Bill in their family business, Oaklane Nursery.
Bettyann began teaching in 1970 at the Leland Elementary School. She taught special education and children with learning disabilities. With three children still at home she completed her master of education degree at Delta State University. She also served as a Washington County election commissioner during this time.
Following her retirement she and Bill began traveling the world, visiting Europe, Japan, Russia, Canada, New Zealand, American Samoa and most U.S. states. They wrote a travel column together for several years entitled “Backpacking Seniors” that appeared regularly in the Life in the Delta magazine. She was able to take many of these trips with her children and grandchildren as well. Following Bill’s death in 2007 she continued to travel, visiting Egypt and Israel.
Bettyann was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church where she played piano for the Aldersgate Sunday School class. She served as the historian for the Greenville Garden Club, was a founding member of the Bon Vivant Supper Club, active in several Bible study groups, and several bridge clubs. She was a former member of the Beta Gamma Book Club and was involved with the Walk to Emmaus community, a Christian ministry to nurture church leaders. She did volunteer work at Delta Medical Center.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bill Weilenman of Stoneville and her first husband, Edwin P. Turner, as well as her parents, Crawford and Irene Williams; and brothers Bill Williams and Crawford Williams.
She is survived by five children: Ellen Walker of Madison; Beth O’Reilly and husband Guy of Leland; Will Weilenmann and wife Sharon of Prescott, AZ; Mark Weilenman and wife Ginny of Brandon; and Jane Weilenman and husband Dick Hanna of Savannah, GA; sister Rene Baird of Inverness; brother-in-law Joe Weilenman of Pago Pago, American Samoa; sister-in-law Jane Head of Monett, MO and sister-in-law Helen Williams of Greenville. She leaves her dear friend and companion Bobby Pruitt of Germantown, TN. She also leaves her grandchildren Jane Britt Warren, Anne Stevens, Molly Meredith, Will O’Reilly, Rob O’Reilly, Shannon Horton, Elijah Weilenmann, Chris Weilenmann, Delaney Vampran Foster, Michael Vampran, Ellen Ens, Oliver Ens, Hannah Card and eight great-grandchildren: Olivia, Crawford, Lucy, Max, Parker, Nevin, Jaci and Aiden.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.