Mrs. Betty Jean Blair

Betty Jean Abercrombie Blair died on January 5, 2023 at Presbyterian Village in Athens. Born on July 11, 1930 in Birmingham, Alabama, she was raised there and graduated from Woodlawn High School. On September 1, 1950, she married Charles Winfred Blair at Woodlawn Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, a marriage that lasted 64 years until his death in 2015. Her husband’s career took them from Birmingham to Fort Valley, Georgia, where he spent the bulk of his career at the Blue Bird Bus Company until his retirement, after which they moved to Blairsville, Georgia. During her adult life in Birmingham and in Fort Valley, Betty was a homemaker and devoted mother to two sons. She was actively engaged in and supportive of their educational and sporting activities. Following Mr. Blair’s death, she enjoyed living closer to her family in Athens and eventually in Commerce. She was a faithful member of Presbyterian churches throughout her life, serving and worshipping in congregations in both Alabama and Georgia. At the time of her death, she was a member of the Commerce Presbyterian Church, prior to which she was a founding member of Faith Presbyterian Church in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Her life was one rich with friends. Always looking forward to conversation--in every place she called home, she cultivated deep and lasting relationships with people from all backgrounds. She was interested in the lives of others and relished the opportunity to share in both their triumphs and their trials. She was gifted with a remarkable memory and enjoyed reminiscing about the people and experiences from her past. She was always an enthusiastic hostess who loved to entertain friends and family in her home. Following her move to Blairsville, she particularly cherished visits from her children and grandchildren in the mountains. She was proud of her family and will be especially remembered for the love and loyalty that she so freely gave to them and to all who loved her. She is survived by two sons: Charles (Johnnie) of Commerce; and Jeff (Charlotte) of Jefferson; four grandchildren: Robert Blair (Laura); Camille Whalen (Cole); Win Blair (Ann Hughston); and Amelia Smith (Stanford); five great-grandchildren; sister-in-law: Linda Blair Smith of Geneva, AL. The cremated remains of Mrs. Blair and her husband will be interred at Faith Presbyterian Church in Blue Ridge during a private family service to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Faith Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 2668, Blue Ridge, GA 30513; or Commerce Presbyterian Church, 89 Lakeview Drive, Commerce, GA 30529.

Mrs. Betty Jean Blair

July 11, 1930 - January 5, 2023