Betty Jean Williams

Betty Jean Williams, age 73, passed away Thursday morning on March 3, 2022 at KU Medical Center Hospital – where she had been a patient for 24 days.  Betty and her twin brother, Billy, were born on May 16, 1948.  She was one of thirteen children born to Charles and Henrietta Woods in Pinhook Missouri.  After graduating from Charleston High School in 1967, she moved to Kansas City Missouri.  She married Henry Louis Williams on January 21, 1968. They moved to Chicago Heights Illinois and from this union they had one daughter, Lorna Michelle Williams.  They later divorced in 1975.

Betty moved back to Kansas City in 1976.  She worked several jobs, some factory work and some domestic work – it was in that occupation where she met former employer and lifetime friend, Rajesh Patel. Her last place of employment was at KU Medical Center where she retired, and some years later had her final retirement.

Everyone always knew where they stood with her. She either liked you or she didn’t – it was black or white with her.  Betty was a master at cleaning and quite comfortable telling you when your cleaning didn’t meet her standards.  She had a sharp tongue and a ‘tell it like it is’ personality.  Betty prided herself in having the nicest yard on the block.  She loved her plants…ALL kinds of plants.  Not to mention she was the unofficial block watcher.  Betty leaves to cherish her memories: one daughter Lorna, son-in-law Bryon Harris, three grandsons Darius, Christian, and Evan Harris; three sisters Georgia Eadie, Ester Best, and Rose Betts, and one brother Willie Woods; a host of nieces and nephews – acknowledging her niece and nephews who spent time with her out of the kindness of their heart Vanessa Thrash, Michael Brown, and Timothy Woods; and her bonus daughter Nicole Cobbs and unofficial private nurse Leticia Shelton.