Obituary for Betsy Rhynett Chatman
From My Heart to Yours
I entered this world on Tuesday, June 28, 1960 born to parents, Bettye Johnson and Vurnell Ollison. At the age of 12, I was adopted by my grandparents, William and Bessie “Momma” Chatman. I was a blessed child growing up, never lacking for anything I needed. Momma didn’t play back in the day. She ran a tight and strict household of which in my adult years I look back on with fondness and appreciation.
With pride, I graduated a Viking from William M. Raines High School in 1978. I was awarded a scholarship in Music from Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas and graduated in 1980. It was at Southwestern where my love for singing really began to flourish, and I began to gain understanding of the vastness and love of the brotherhood as we traveled to congregations across the country singing and raising funds for the college and were welcomed in many homes of Christians. It was also at this unique treasure I was blessed with very special and lasting friendships that remained tightly woven together throughout the years.
God blessed me with three beautiful sisters in the persons of Kimberly, Lanita, and Sharon who are beautiful women in their own rights. Through the years, our lives have had many twists and turns, but through it all we remained constant. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to watch them develop as I treasured sharing in their celebrations and accomplishments and for them being with me on my journey in life.
As you know, I never married nor bore any children, but the Lord blessed me abundantly with many children, nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, mothers, and fathers in the Lord. I am a testimony that God does all things well and gives us just what we need and when we need it. I praise Him for giving me an abundance of love through the love of many.
To my aunt and uncle, Clarence and Judy Cross. There are no words to adequately express how grateful I am for the sacrifice and love extended to me. Thank you for your willingness to take on the task of caring for me and my affairs and holding it down for the family. Bless them Lord.
To my friend, Pat Brown: Thank you for being my momma, protector, chauffeur, confidant, sister, tear wiper, coordinator, and support to my family. Only God could have provided such a rich blessing.
To the entire family of God, the brotherhood of the Church of Christ: Thank you for your prayers, visits, calls, thoughts, and financial contributions. On behalf of my family, I say thank you because we could not have made it without you and those to whom you reached out to on my behalf.
To Brother Charlie McClendon, my father in the gospel and my Northside family: We ran this race in the Lord together for over 46 years. Where did the time go?! I PRAISE and SHOUT unto the Lord for planting me in this portion of his vineyard that meet on the Northside of Jacksonville. Over the years, we toiled and sweated together. Oh, the storms we endured! The tears we shed! The prayers we prayed! Fellowships we shared! The lessons we learned! I can truly say, We Shared Jesus!
I would be the first to say, God did a wonderful work in my life. Where I ended up in Him, I had not always been. I stumbled countless times along the way. My illness was the toughest thing I ever had to endure, but through God it served and blessed me well. Through All My Trials I grew in my relationship with the Father and cared less about the things of this world. I grew in the knowledge of the Word and increased my time spent with Him in prayer. Whomever would accept an invitation, I invited them to service. I sought to use my affliction to bless others through the scriptures I read, studied, and prayed over on Facebook. I grew to depend on Him like never before and nothing became more important to me than Heaven, and for that I say, “Thank you God!” Just know, when I departed this life I was still holding on to His hand.
Finally, I encourage all who read these words to not weep for me, for it is all good when you die in the Lord. I encourage you to Hold on, Everything Is Going to Be Alright because God Will Provide. Just as he did for me, He will give you hope when you are laden down in sorrow, however dark the night.
Gone on before me are my parents/grandparents, William and Bessie Chatman; father, Vurnell Ollison; grandparents, Charlie and Bertha White; and aunt and uncle, Ernestine and Hardy McAlphine.
Those whom I love and leave behind to remember and cherish our time together: my mother, Bettye Johnson; sisters, Kimberly Baker (Jerry), Lanita Walker (Eric), Sharon Priester, and Bunny Ollison; brothers, Duane Priester, Keith Ollison, Cory Ollison, and Damon Ollison; aunt, Judy Cross (Clarence); cousins, Tonya McAlphine, Terry Partee, Tony McDonald, Jason Cross, and Bettye Williams; goddaughters, Frannie Florence, Tisha Rock, Martina Blount, Genesis Rhynett Archer, and Tekoa Rhynett Bell; best friends, Pamela Gordon and Patricia McClendon Brown; brothers/friends, Ronald Brown, Eric Bell, Andrew Daniels, and Deweyne Robinson; Primary Care Physician and friend, Dr. Anil George; nieces, nephews, and a host of other family members, friends, and the Northside Church of Christ family. I’m going home, I’ll see you soon. Love, ~Betsy Rhynett Chatman~
The funeral service for Betsy Rhynett Chatman will be held 10:00AM Saturday, January 25th, 2020 at the Northside Church of Christ 4736 Avenue B. The visitation will be 4 - 7PM, Friday, January 24th, 2020 at the Northside Church of Christ 4736 Avenue B. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Please sign the family guest book and view the video tribute @ www.tswarden.com. Arrangements in care of Tyrone S. Warden, FDIC, 4315 N. Main Street, 765-1234
I entered this world on Tuesday, June 28, 1960 born to parents, Bettye Johnson and Vurnell Ollison. At the age of 12, I was adopted by my grandparents, William and Bessie “Momma” Chatman. I was a blessed child growing up, never lacking for anything I needed. Momma didn’t play back in the day. She ran a tight and strict household of which in my adult years I look back on with fondness and appreciation.
With pride, I graduated a Viking from William M. Raines High School in 1978. I was awarded a scholarship in Music from Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas and graduated in 1980. It was at Southwestern where my love for singing really began to flourish, and I began to gain understanding of the vastness and love of the brotherhood as we traveled to congregations across the country singing and raising funds for the college and were welcomed in many homes of Christians. It was also at this unique treasure I was blessed with very special and lasting friendships that remained tightly woven together throughout the years.
God blessed me with three beautiful sisters in the persons of Kimberly, Lanita, and Sharon who are beautiful women in their own rights. Through the years, our lives have had many twists and turns, but through it all we remained constant. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to watch them develop as I treasured sharing in their celebrations and accomplishments and for them being with me on my journey in life.
As you know, I never married nor bore any children, but the Lord blessed me abundantly with many children, nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, mothers, and fathers in the Lord. I am a testimony that God does all things well and gives us just what we need and when we need it. I praise Him for giving me an abundance of love through the love of many.
To my aunt and uncle, Clarence and Judy Cross. There are no words to adequately express how grateful I am for the sacrifice and love extended to me. Thank you for your willingness to take on the task of caring for me and my affairs and holding it down for the family. Bless them Lord.
To my friend, Pat Brown: Thank you for being my momma, protector, chauffeur, confidant, sister, tear wiper, coordinator, and support to my family. Only God could have provided such a rich blessing.
To the entire family of God, the brotherhood of the Church of Christ: Thank you for your prayers, visits, calls, thoughts, and financial contributions. On behalf of my family, I say thank you because we could not have made it without you and those to whom you reached out to on my behalf.
To Brother Charlie McClendon, my father in the gospel and my Northside family: We ran this race in the Lord together for over 46 years. Where did the time go?! I PRAISE and SHOUT unto the Lord for planting me in this portion of his vineyard that meet on the Northside of Jacksonville. Over the years, we toiled and sweated together. Oh, the storms we endured! The tears we shed! The prayers we prayed! Fellowships we shared! The lessons we learned! I can truly say, We Shared Jesus!
I would be the first to say, God did a wonderful work in my life. Where I ended up in Him, I had not always been. I stumbled countless times along the way. My illness was the toughest thing I ever had to endure, but through God it served and blessed me well. Through All My Trials I grew in my relationship with the Father and cared less about the things of this world. I grew in the knowledge of the Word and increased my time spent with Him in prayer. Whomever would accept an invitation, I invited them to service. I sought to use my affliction to bless others through the scriptures I read, studied, and prayed over on Facebook. I grew to depend on Him like never before and nothing became more important to me than Heaven, and for that I say, “Thank you God!” Just know, when I departed this life I was still holding on to His hand.
Finally, I encourage all who read these words to not weep for me, for it is all good when you die in the Lord. I encourage you to Hold on, Everything Is Going to Be Alright because God Will Provide. Just as he did for me, He will give you hope when you are laden down in sorrow, however dark the night.
Gone on before me are my parents/grandparents, William and Bessie Chatman; father, Vurnell Ollison; grandparents, Charlie and Bertha White; and aunt and uncle, Ernestine and Hardy McAlphine.
Those whom I love and leave behind to remember and cherish our time together: my mother, Bettye Johnson; sisters, Kimberly Baker (Jerry), Lanita Walker (Eric), Sharon Priester, and Bunny Ollison; brothers, Duane Priester, Keith Ollison, Cory Ollison, and Damon Ollison; aunt, Judy Cross (Clarence); cousins, Tonya McAlphine, Terry Partee, Tony McDonald, Jason Cross, and Bettye Williams; goddaughters, Frannie Florence, Tisha Rock, Martina Blount, Genesis Rhynett Archer, and Tekoa Rhynett Bell; best friends, Pamela Gordon and Patricia McClendon Brown; brothers/friends, Ronald Brown, Eric Bell, Andrew Daniels, and Deweyne Robinson; Primary Care Physician and friend, Dr. Anil George; nieces, nephews, and a host of other family members, friends, and the Northside Church of Christ family. I’m going home, I’ll see you soon. Love, ~Betsy Rhynett Chatman~
The funeral service for Betsy Rhynett Chatman will be held 10:00AM Saturday, January 25th, 2020 at the Northside Church of Christ 4736 Avenue B. The visitation will be 4 - 7PM, Friday, January 24th, 2020 at the Northside Church of Christ 4736 Avenue B. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Please sign the family guest book and view the video tribute @ www.tswarden.com. Arrangements in care of Tyrone S. Warden, FDIC, 4315 N. Main Street, 765-1234