Betty White

Betty Lois White was born on December 1, 1930 to Walter and Lillie Crow Harris in Detroit, Michigan. She went home to be with her Lord on April 10, 2022. She was the youngest of three children born to this union. Both siblings, Dorothy Pack and Rev. Clarence (Sonny) Harris, along with Curtis Harris, Neal Harris, and Richard Harris preceded her in death.  

She moved to Arkadelphia, Arkansas at the age of four along with two siblings after the passing of their mother. At a young age, she moved to Portland, Oregon with her mother’s brother and wife, Clarence and Gertrude Crow. Betty completed high school and began her college education in Portland and continued at Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Betty, affectionately known as Aunt Betty, moved to San Diego, California with her husband, Robert White. She loved attending church and bowling.  She certainly loved playing Bid Whist. She lived in San Diego for a few years, before returning to Portland, Oregon. She continued bowling and was a member of several bowling leagues. She was a member of Bethel AME Church where she enjoyed singing praises to The Lord in her Church Choir. She did Zodiac teas and Church plays.

After retirement, in 2008, Aunt Betty decided to return to Arkadelphia, where two of her nieces and one nephew reside. She joined Mt. Canaan Baptist Church where her nephew, Rev. Johnny C. Harris is the pastor. She served as Mission President, Chair of the Church Directory project, and Director of the “Rags to Riches” fashion show. Aunt Betty had such a melodious voice and enjoyed giving praises while singing along with the church choir. She enjoyed when her nieces and nephews came to visit her from Michigan, Texas and California and other locations.

Left to celebrate her life and legacy is her sister-in-law, Ethel Harris, Arkadelphia, AR;  are her siblings: Georgianna Duncan, Orange City, FL, Audrey Morgan, Compton, CA, Walter David Harris (Kit), Detroit, MI.; her nieces and nephews: Daryl Pack (Robin), Adrienne Adams, Jerome Pack (Phyllis) all of Detroit, MI, Rev. Johnny Harris (Linda), Phyllis Dixon (Artis), Wanda Harris all of Arkadelphia AR, Kelvin Harris, Sunnyvale, TX, Frisco White (Maire), Catherine White, San Diego, CA;  Favorite cousin Carol Haywood, Milwaukee, WI. Other survivors include additional nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends. Those who proceeded her in death were: Mack Ivan Harris (Marilyn) and Rosemary Stavis.

Submitted by the family.

Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at Williams Funeral Home. Services will be held at Williams Funeral Home on Friday, April 22, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Johnny Harris, eulogist. Interment will be at Helms Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jerome Pack, Danny Hart, David Williams, Jarrod Harris, Kevin Fuller and Johnny Harris.