Betty Juanita Garrett Slusser
April 8, 1931-March 2, 2023

Born on April 8, 1931, to Marvin and Sally Garrett, Betty Slusser grew up on a farm near Two Egg,
Florida. She was raised in a house shared by two brothers and their wives. While she had only two
siblings, Eugene and Helen, she had many cousins who became like brothers and sisters to her. In 1947, Marvin, Sallie and Betty joined Eugene and Helen who had relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida. Marvin started working at Nichols Brothers AMC car dealership which was owned by members of Sallie's family. Betty enrolled in St. Petersburg High School where she was a member of the Homemakers Club. She graduated in 1949.
While at St. Pete High, Betty met Richard Thomas "Tommy" Slusser whose family had also relocated to St. Petersburg from a farm in Blacksburg, Virginia. On January 12, 1951, Tom and Betty were married and lived in St. Petersburg. A daughter, Terri, was born in 1952, and a son, Glen, was born in 1957. After her children grew older, Betty worked for the School Board of Pinellas County and the City of Pinellas Park.

Betty was a member of Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, both the old campus on Fifth Avenue South and the current location on Fifth Avenue North. She served in Vacation Bible School and on the Hostess Committee where her gift of hospitality was an important part of church life. Betty became known for cooking, particularly desserts. Her pound cakes, caramel cakes, blueberry dump cakes, and "Co Cola cakes" are fondly remembered as is her secret Brunswick Stew recipe which was thankfully passed on to her granddaughter. Sunday nights became an opportunity to host fellow church members at their home. She did have to improvise on the night that the cat ate the meringue off the lemon pie!

She is survived by her daughter Terri Slusser Sweat (Gary), and a son, Glen Thomas Slusser (Cathy), four grandchildren, Alison Sweat DeMarco (Dan), Jennifer Sweat Kelley (Aaron), Robert Thomas Slusser and Timothy Glen Slusser (Miranda), three great grandchildren, Julia DeMarco, Daniel DeMarco and Jonah Slusser and cousin, Ruth Matthews. Betty's husband of 71 years, Tommy, died December 30, 2022. She was also predeceased by her sister, Helen, brother, Gene, and many loving and close cousins.