- Date Of Birth: July 14, 1937
- Date Of Death: July 27, 2022
- State: Mississippi
Betty Stepney was born Betty Jean Jenkins on July 14,1937 to the union of the late Tommie and Mary Jenkins. She was the eighth of fourteen siblings and was preceded in death by 9 brothers and 3 sisters.
Betty left Mississippi in 1955 and moved to East St. Louis, IL, where she met and married Willie Lee Scott.There she joined the Pilgrim Baptist Church under the now deceased Pastor M. R. Lemons. She sang in the choir and was also a member of the Voices of Faith gospel group. Later, she met and married Ray Stepney.After living in East St. Louis for 27 years, she moved to Alliance, OH and resided there for 21 years. She was a member of Second Baptist Church under Pastor Cato Waiters. She sang in the choir, was a deaconess, an usher and a member of the mission board. She also sang with a local gospel group, the Chosen Ones.During her time there she was employed as a cook for the Headstart pre-school program. In 2002, she moved to Montgomery, AL for 3 years, then moved back home to Shuqualak, MS in 2005. She joined New Shiloh Baptist Church and was an active member of the choir and mission board. She also joined the gospel group, Kemper Harmoneers. She resided in Shuqualakuntil 2019, then moved back to Montgomery, AL to permanently live with her only daughter. While there, she joined Baptist Hill Missionary Baptist Church under current Pastor Jay C. Coleman.
To most of Betty’s nieces and nephews, she was the aunt who could still make tea cakes.
Betty is survived by 1 daughter, Elendia (Lynn) Maria Jenkins-Smith of Montgomery, AL; 1 adopted daughter, Earline Williams of Gary, IN; 6 stepchildren, Janice Stepney-Jones, Karlion Stepney, James Stepney, Regina Stepney-Haslerig, Lillie Stepney-Jackson and Cherri Stepney-Lester; 2 grandchildren, 2 great-grandsand a host of nieces, nephews, family members and friends.
