CELEBRATION OF LIFE
FOR

Sunrise September 12, 1942

Sunset November 14, 2012

Monday, November 19, 2012 11:00 A.M.
TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH 1223 Laney Walker Boulevard Augusta, Georgia
Reverend Dr. Charles E. Goodman, Jr., Pastor

Born September 12, 1942 in Savannah, GA, she has always been brave and fearless. At the age o f three, she walked a mile through her neighborhood to her grandmother's house. No one knew where Betty was except "Granny". She stood before the church congregation also at age three to recite the Welcome address and a speech every Easter until age eight.
Betty Jean attended East Broad Street Elementary School were as we know she fascinated the teachers, students, and parents when they saw her at age six lead the entire school on May Day to the May Festival in her majorette outfit and her baton. During her tender year o f eight she was baptized and afterwards became a Junior Missionary at Evergreen Baptist Church, Savannah, Georgia.
During her Junior High years she was an Operetta Ballerina, a runner, and an actress in the Drama Club, and while attending A. E. Beach High School she was the newspaper associate editor, recipient o f the Thespian Award and Head Majorette.
As a young adult she became interested in politics and also during that time she married a wonderful and loving man, Benjamin Diggs, who has preceded her in death as o f 2007. They were blessed with two daughters Sonia and Stephanie. In addition to her being a wife and mother, she was also honored to be elected as a Delegate to the 1972 National Democratic Convention.
She was also a volunteer at her daughters' school and was elected PTA President and recognized as a Life Member o f PTA.
Because she was a late bloomer she was blessed with a son o f the century, Anwar and five years later a miracle baby girl, Sadiqa.
The late bloomer syndrome continued when four years later she continued her education at Paine College. During her matriculation she became President o f SGAE (Student Government Association o f Education), Editor o f the SGAE newsletter, and Vice President for SGAE for the State o f Georgia two years consecutively. After graduating she pursued her teaching career.
She became a Science teacher at East Augusta Middle School (EAMS). During her years at EAMS she was appointed Science Representative for the County Tbam which consisted o f two UGA Professors, County Coordinators, an elementary teacher and a high school teacher and they traveled the US doing demonstrations for other Science teachers. She was also voted Teacher Delegate to the GAE (Georgia Association o f Educators) Representative Assembly for many years, and she retired from the RCBOE in 2006.
While continuing her career she also became First Lady o f the Clothing o f Power Church o f Restoration in Savannah, GA and also the President and CEO o f the Children Education Fund, which was a fund started to assist our children as they started college or a business.
Now that she has gone to be with Jesus and her beloved husband, we ask for your continual prayers for our family, friends, neighbors and strangers who seek and already have God's divine grace, guidance and favor.
Betty was preceded in death by her father Willie C. Johnson, Sr., her mother Leila Mae Johnson, her brother Willie C. Johnson, Jr and her sister Lucille H. Brooks.
She leaves to cherish precious memories in the hearts o f her courageous three daughters, Sonia Diggs (Aaron) England, Stephanie M.D. (Aaron) Talley and Sadiqa A. Diggs o f Augusta, Georgia; the son o f the century, Anwar S. (Kim ) Diggs o f Wilmington, Delaware; eleven grandchildren; one godbrother, Willie (Annette) Reid, affectionately known as "Willie B"; one goddaughter, Phyllis E. (Samuel) Washington o f Snellville, Georgia; seven godsons, Nathan Rembert, Thomas Gaffney, Theodore Gilyard, Roy Fielding o f Augusta, Georgia, Freddie Harmon o f Germany, Jo Nathan Pickney o f North Augusta, South Carolina, Robert Berry III o f Savannah, Georgia; one sister, Marilyn J. (Johnnie) McKay o f New York, New York; two brothers, Nathaniel (Deotha) Johnson and Earl Johnson o f Savannah, Georgia; and a host o f devoted nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

P ro c e s s io n a l

nation

S c r ip t u r e .......................... .. J a d e C. F ie ld in g a n d C a ra J. T k lle y P s a lm 91

P r a y e r o f C o m f o r t .......... ......................M in is t e r E d w a rd D ig g s

S e le c tio n

R eflection s A s A C o - w o r k e r ..... ..................................Dr. V e r m a C u rtis A s A F r i e n d ............ .............................. M rs. R u b y A b r a m s A s A N i e c e .............. ............................. N a t a le e L. J o h n s o n A s A G o d d a u g h t e r ......................... P h y llis E. W a s h in g to n
A ckn ow ledgem en ts

S e le c tio n

W o rd s o f C o m f o r t .....R e v e r e n d Dr. C h a r le s E. G o o d m a n , Jr.

R ecessional

I n t e r m e n t .......................... .................. W e s t o v e r M e m o r ia l P a rk 2601 W h e e le r R oa d
Augusta, G eorgia 30904

Repast Tabernacle F am ily L ife C en ter

Anwar Diggs Samuel Washington Jo Nathan Pinckney

Nathan Rembert Roy Fielding Robert Berry, III

God saw you getting tired When a cure was not tO'he. So He wrapped His arms around you And whispered, "Come unto me."
You didn't deserve What you went through, And so He gave you rest. God's garden must he beautiful, He only takes the best. So when I saw you sleeping, So peaceful and free from pain, I could not wish you to come back, Tb suffer all that again.
- A rthur Unknown Submitted by A lice L ockhart

The Family o f the late Betty Jean Johnson Diggs would like to thank each person for your cards, flowers, telephone calls, food, and all acts o f kindness shown during our bereavem ent. Please continue to pray and be supportive o f our fam ily throughout the days to come. We ask God's richest blessings upon you.
W. H. Mays M ortuary
"Professional Service A Family Tradition Since 1922" 1221 James Brown Boulevard Augusta GA 30901 706-722-6401