Betty Jean Towriss

Betty Jean Towriss of St. Petersburg, FL passed away on July 1, 2022, peacefully in her home. Betty was born on May 26, 1939 to Charles Preston and Dora Belle (Helphenstine) Claypool in Goddard, Kentucky. Betty’s life began as the youngest of seven children on a farm in eastern Kentucky. At a very young age, Betty felt to call to give her life to Christ and use the special gifts God had given to her to witness and share the gospel. After graduating from high school at the age of 16, Betty began traveling with her two best friends, singing at revival meetings and camp meetings throughout Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Virginia. A friendship that continued on their entire lives. A young man, having seen Betty’s picture in his local newspaper advertising the trio singing at a revival in his home town, went to the service to meet her and hopefully ask her for a date. She said “No” but asked him to return the next evening to that service, he did and she agreed to have a date. That young man became her husband of 51 years and the two of them shared a life of ministry together for 46 years. After raising her family, Betty began a career teaching 2 year olds in day school. At the age of 80 Betty retired having had the privilege of shaping and mentoring the young lives of two generations. Betty is survived by her children: Tamara “Tammy” (Rick) Hale of Roanoke, Virginia; Kelly (Michael) Hone of Hickory, North Carolina; Charles David Towriss of St. Petersburg, Florida and Stacey Davis of St. Petersburg, Florida; her loving sister Gail Hinton of Flemingsburg, Kentucky; her grandchildren: Candace (Brian) Pruett of North Carolina, Elizabeth (Christopher) Cotter of Ohio, Kari (Jeff) Carpenter of North Carolina, Katelyn (Ryan) Ackerman of North Carolina, Tyler Davis of Florida, Meredith Hale of Tennessee, Lauren (Matt) Goldstein of Florida and Lydia Davis of Florida along with 11 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Betty was greeted in Heaven by her loving husband, Rev. Charles E. Towriss, her parents, her grandson, Charles Preston Towriss, her brothers Marvin Claypool and Charles Preston Claypool, Jr., and sisters Helen Franks, Maxine Fox and Mabel Rabe. A celebration for a life well lived is scheduled of Saturday July 9, 2022 at Central Christian Church located at 6161 22nd Avenue N., St. Petersburg, FL 33710. Receiving will be from 12:30pm to 2:00pm and the service will start following at 2:00pm. Donation can be made in her name to Hospice/Empath or Central Christian Church. We the family would like to say a special THANK YOU to Elizabeth, Betty’s Hospice Nurse.

Betty Jean Towriss

May 26, 1939 - July 1, 2022