Betty Ruth Craft Anderson

Betty Ruth Anderson, of Soso, MS entered the loving arms of her Savior April 20, 2025. The daughter of John Craft and Mittie Butler Craft, she was born the eighth of eight children, March 14, 1932 in Smith County, Mize, MS. She attended school in Mize and graduated from Mize High School in 1949. Preceding Betty in death were her husband Woodrow "Woody" Anderson; parents John and Mittie Craft; step-mother Mattie Jones Craft; brother Randall Craft (Imogene) of Mize; sisters Hilma (Barney) McAlpin of Laurel; Willie Myrl (Corbett) Sullivan of Mize; Audell (Willard Clark, Percy) Swager of Laurel; Ann (Bill) Frisby of Mobile, AL, Johnnie (Lavern) Royals of Soso; Vernell (George) Creel of Soso; nephews Pat Sullivan of Columbia, SC; Paul Clark of Mendenhall; Larry McAlpin of Laurel and niece Barbara Clark Miller of Guthrie, OK. Betty Anderson is survived by nineteen nieces and nephews, all who consider Betty their second mother. Nicky McAlpin Blakeney, Laurel; Jeanne McAlpin Hull, Baton Rouge, LA; Sandra Craft Cooper, Fulton, MS; Randall (Linda) Craft, Jr. Fulton, MS; Melodee Craft (Ray) Goodwin, Newfoundland, NJ; Stephanie Craft (Stephen) Henning, Batesville, MS; Stanley (Patricia) Sullivan, Mize; Betty Anne Sullivan (Tom) Young, Caregivers, Soso; Steve (Jane) Sullivan, Mize; Ken (Karen) Swager, Laurel; Carolyn Sullivan (Bob) Fillingham, Mobile, AL; Michael Sullivan, Mobile, AL; Sherry Royals Jefcoat, Soso; Marilyn Royals Monroe, Springfield, KY; Kirk (Wanda) Royals, Soso; Gary (Ann) Creel, Sugar Hill, GA; Cynthia Creel Shelton, Memphis, TN; Debbie Creel, Soso; Judith Creel (Paul) Heathcock, Heidelberg, MS. There are a host of great, 2X great and 3X great nieces and nephews. Upon graduation, Betty moved to Laurel to be closer to some of her family and to find employment. She did find employment but she also met her husband, Woodrow "Woody" Anderson. They were married in 1950 and married for 55 years, till Woody's death in 2005. God did not give Betty and Woody children but they had a large family of siblings, nieces and nephews and many friends. She considered herself a second mother to her 23 nieces and nephews and a grandmother to many more. Their home was always a gathering place for family reunions and friends and always a place of fun and laughs Betty was a longtime resident of Jones County and the Laurel area. She was a member of West Laurel Baptist Church and an active choir member for many years. She loved to sing for the Lord. Betty Anderson was employed in the banking and insurance industry for many years. She was a talented artist; sold some of her work and taught many students at her home studio. Betty loved her county, state and nation. She believed in staying informed and knowing the candidates. She was an active member of the Jones County Republican Women. Betty enjoyed traveling with friends and family. She visited 48 of the 50 nation's states and traveled internationally. She enjoyed cooking and gardening. She took great pride in her yard and continued to mow her own lawn till the age of 89. Betty loved her pets. She had many dogs and cats over the years. It was very important to her to know that Tom and Jerry, her cats, were going to be cared for when she was gone. Most of all Betty Anderson loved God and people. She had a kind and forgiving heart. The family would like to thank Forrest General Hospital Hospice and Betty's Care Team: Dr. Washington, Crysti, Andrea, Chaplain Paul, Sally, Renee and others at Asbury Home for their excellent care, compassion and support. Visitation will be held at Memory Chapel Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be at Memory Chapel on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. with interment to follow at Sunset Gardens Cemetery. Pastors Allen Hill and Russ Freeman will officiate. Pallbearers will be John Dickerson, Jose Rodriguez, Matt Sullivan, Paul Heathcock, Tracy Broadway, Tom Young, Brian Sullivan, and Gary Creel. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to mention Betty had several charities which she supported: Tunnel to Towers Foundation, The Wounded Warrior Project, St. Jude's Children's Hospital and American Cancer Assoc. Feel free to make a donation to your favorite charity or one of Betty's in her memory. To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Betty Ruth Craft Anderson

March 14, 1932 - April 20, 2025