Betty Bishop Downs

Betty Jean Bishop Downs, 85, passed away on Monday, September 27, 2021 at Liberty Regional Hospital. 

A resident of Hinesville for the past sixty years, Betty was born on November 12, 1935 in Jasper, Florida to the late Jessie and Rhoda Register Bishop.  After high school graduation, she met and married her late husband, Jimmie R. Downs, Sr. The two moved around quite frequently while he was serving in the United States Airforce before settling in Hinesville.  She worked several jobs during her lifetime including positions at Liberty Regional Medical Center as a nurse’s aide and as a cake decorator at the Red & White Grocery Store, but her true passion was caring for her beloved family.  Betty was a charter member of the Crossroads Holy Church of God where she had served as Bookkeeper for many years and had also taught Sunday School.  Her kind and gentle nature made her a mother figure to many in the congregation and she loved everyone and in turn, was loved by everyone in the church.  Betty also enjoyed flowers and in her younger years, was always baking and camping in her spare time.

In addition to her parents and husband, her son, Jimmie R. Downs, Jr.; granddaughter, Crystal DiGiacomo; grandson Dustin Downs; brother, James Bishop and sister Jackie Franz, all preceded her in death.

Survivors include her children, Richard “Rick” Downs and wife, Joann of Jesup, Deborah Williams and husband, Bob of Hinesville, Donna Young and husband, Jeff of Hinesville, Teressa White of Hinesville and Debra Godbee Downs of Ludowici; grandchildren, Joel Sherfy, Bryan Diamond, Amanda White and Josh White all of Hinesville, Heather Downs of Ludowici, Julie Waller of Pooler, Jason Tapley of Hinesville,  Nicholas Dostroph of Colorado and Mary Downs of Hinesville; brother, Ray Bishop of White Springs, Florida; sister, Barbara Davis and husband, Gill of Tallahassee, FL and niece, Sherrie Milam and nephew, Bobby Franz and wife, Bev.  A host of great and great great grandchildren and a large extended family with nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 2, 2021 at Crossroads Holy Church of God with Rev. Jep Newberry officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services at the church. 

Interment will be held privately at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Glennville.

Active pallbearers will be Jimmie R. Downs, III, Chris Sherfy, Joel Sherfy, Martin Downs, Bryan Diamond and Bubba Newberry.  Honorary pallbearers will be Dalton Dowd, Larry Price, Danny Futch and Gary Groover.

Arrangements are provided by Carter Funeral Home Oglethorpe Chapel. To share a memory or leave a condolence, please visit www.carteroglethorpe.com.