Bettye Sue King Stringer

Bettye Sue King Stringer was born the 5th of seven children to Annie Elizabeth Musgrove and Emmett Gambrell (E.G.) King June 19, 1931 on their farm in southeast Smith County (Summerland), Mississippi. She passed on March 15, 2016 at 5:38 p.m. She is survived by three sons and a daughter-in-law; Dwane Howard, James Toby and Sue, and Jimmy Harold, five granddaughters; Randa Stringer, Brooke Stringer Corte, Rian Stringer Spellman, Danielle Stringer Lange, and DeAnna Stringer Kirby; four great grandsons Jeremy Solis, James Kaid Perkins, Headyn Adam Robert Lange, Kion Toby Spellman; and one great granddaughter Jessalyn Brooke Perkins; also, two brothers John David King and Mildred, Gwin King and Bonnie; four nieces, ten nephews and seventeen great nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, James Howard Stringer 2005, her parents Annie and Emmett King 1985 & 1986, one brother, Ance Hershal King 1999, three sisters Audrey Lea King Walley 2013, Emily Florence King Chapman 2014 and Jean King Ford 2015; three nephews Dan Ford Jr., Don Hall and Jack Chapman, and one great nephew Adam Holt King. Bettye started her education at Summerland School in 1937, 1st grade. Her parents transferred their children to Stringer School in 1941. At Stringer she took piano from Mrs. Chipley, played on the high school basketball team each year with Mrs. Peagler and Mr. J.E. Sansing Sr., the superintendent (principal), as coaches. She completed all required courses in commercial business which prepared her for a job with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) where she later worked and retired after thirty-one years. While in high school she took five credits each year and went to Jones County Junior College for her last 2 credits the summer of 1947 and graduated from Stringer High School in 1948. She finished high school in three years. Bettye was elected Homecoming Queen of the Stringer High School Football Team her freshman year at Stringer High, and was high school cheerleader throughout high school. An outstanding young man named James Howard Stringer was a star athlete in sports during that time and just happened to be Bettye’s boyfriend. During her early family years, she enjoyed many exciting activities with family, boating, water skiing, birthday parties, hobo parties, camping with the little kids in the back yard and later in the back pasture. Bettye was a devout, practicing Christian and as Methodist Youth Counselor at Stringer Methodist Church she carried the kids, Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF), to District Meetings all over, with opportunities to participate in summer church camp at Wesley Pines in Gallman, pond parties, house and church parties, bowling, swim trips to Waukaway Springs east of Vossburg and the public pool at Daphne Park in Laurel. All three of Bettye and James’ boys graduated Stringer High School. All three were very popular and each, as a senior, was voted Mr. Stringer High School by their respective school body. In football Dwane was a fullback, Toby a running back and quarterback, and Jim “Musgrove” was an outstanding end. She and James loved being involved with their kids and school and sports, and never missed a game. After retirement Bettye enjoyed going to productions of the local Little Theatre in Laurel with life-long neighbor and friend Miss Lucy Parker and later with her good friend Miss Bonnie Hosey. Bettye was active in the Red Hat Club (“Boa Babes”), Fellowship of Friends, and with the Jasper County Election Commission. She was also involved in the community as a volunteer for the women’s Domestic Abuse Shelter organization in Laurel and Hattiesburg. She volunteered twice a week at the Domestic Abuse Shelter in Laurel answering the “Hot Line” and doing some clerical work there and the Hattiesburg shelter as well, her son Dwane was also involved with the Hattiesburg and Laurel Shelters too and continues today. Bettye loved the goal and purpose of the organization and the professional and dedicated staff, none more so than Director Becky Sims and the other sociologist, doctors, and psychologists that made one appreciate a solid upbringing, good parents, and genuine love for family and friends. Bettye’s love of Church and bookkeeping continued her sense of community involvement after retirement, because it filled her time, after her daily house work, with quality work and achievements. She was treasurer of Stringer United Methodist Church beginning in 1994 and continued until 2014. Bettye loved people, and often planned get-togethers for a meal with family and friends. She was Methodist Youth Counselor; and for a short while taught the Adult Sunday School Class (thanks to Cil McDonald, her mentor, prayer warrior, and Sunday School teacher). And loved it. There were many comments about learning so much, but she felt inferior and embarrassed because there were so many teachers in the class more capable then her. Wanting to stay active mentally and physically, she always had a book, a written message to someone sick, a sympathy card or birthday, a call to check on someone, word-find books, cooking and new recipes, and ideas from magazines. There were books, written messages to someone sick and farm records to be kept. Bettye often repeated how blessed she and James had been with support from the “boys” and Sue, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, many loyal friends and pastors. And so THANK YOU: James, Dwane, Toby and Sue, Jim, Randa, Brooke, Rian, Danielle, DeAnna and Stephen, and thank you to sisters Florence, Jean, Audrey and sister-in-law Mildred, brothers John David and Gwin; her nieces Becky Grant, Bonnie Foley, and Brenda Dykes who took her under their wings and loved her like a blood relative; and her nephews Joe Chapman, Tommy Grant, Danny Dykes and special loyal friends like Lucy Parker, Bonnie Hosey, Frankie and June, Cil McDonald, Ann Parker, Jack and Beth, Johnny and Linda, Josh and Keri, Glenn and Joan, for all the prayers, love and devoted support and concern, and for being an integral part of her life. To you all, Thank You. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 19, 2016, at Stringer Methodist Church with visitation at the church beginning at 9 a.m. Burial will follow at Liberty Cemetery. Rev. Cille McDonald will officiate. Visitation will also be held from 5 until 9 p.m. Friday, March 18, at Memory Chapel in Laurel. To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Bettye Sue King Stringer

June 19, 1931 - March 15, 2016