Betty Ann Williford

With a grateful heart, we honor the life of Betty Williford, who transitioned on July 21, 2025, surrounded by loving family. A steady presence in our lives, Betty was known for her quiet strength, unwavering loyalty, and the kind of integrity that spoke louder than words. Betty was born on September 25, 1944, to Johnny Will Hayes Sr. and Sarah Hayes Pugh in Dawson, Georgia. She was educated in the Dougherty County Public Schools system. Betty's beloved grandmother, the late Mattie Shephard Bell, played a pivotal role in her upbringing, helping shape the woman she would become. From an early age, Betty worked alongside her sisters, Mattie and Gwen, in the fields of Terrell County picking cotton, shaking peanuts, and suckering tobacco. Under their grandmother's guidance, she also learned to tend a garden, gaining skills that fed both body and spirit. As a child, Betty was introduced to the Lord and became a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Dawson, Georgia. She is fondly remembered for reciting her Easter speech each year-a tradition that brought joy to many and reflected her early connection to faith. The spiritual foundation she gained, along with the lessons of hard work, self-reliance, and resilience, stayed with Betty throughout her life, grounding her character and shaping the values she lived by. Betty's love for cooking began early, as she developed her skills working as an assistant cook for the owners of Aunt Fannie's. That foundation blossomed into a lifelong passion and career. She found deep purpose and fulfillment as an executive chef at the Heritage House Hotel, where she spent several years refining her craft and took great pride in every dish she prepared. Her love for cooking was unmistakable and shone through in both the care and flavor of her meals. After her time at the Heritage House Hotel, Betty continued to share her culinary talents as a cook with Sodexo at the Procter & Gamble cafeteria. There, she was not only celebrated for her exceptional cooking but also cherished for her helpful spirit and warm, welcoming presence. Known for her gift in the kitchen, Betty had a special way of bringing family and friends together through food. Her Southern cooking was unmatched-deeply rooted in tradition and made with love. Her buttery sweet pound cake, light and fluffy biscuits, creamy cheesecakes and golden waffles were the stuff of legends, often requested and never forgotten. Sunday dinners weren't complete without her signature desserts-each bite a testament to her care and mastery. Betty didn't just cook meals; she created memories. Her kitchen was a place of comfort, laughter, and togetherness.As a teenager living on the 100 block of Whitney, Betty was introduced to a young man affectionately known as "Tiny" by his friends. Each week, he and the other neighborhood boys would gather to play a game they called "golf." In time, Betty learned his real name was Robert Lee Williford. Though neither of them knew it then, years after that first meeting, Betty realized he was her forever person. They married and shared more than 45 years of a union rooted in deep love and mutual respect. Their home became a haven-a place filled with warmth, laughter, unforgettable meals, and the kind of companionship that only best friends share. They were truly inseparable. Betty loved her family deeply-especially her son, Marcus, and her grandsons, Jerome, Jamal, and JaMichael. Her love extended to her great-grandchildren, whose lives were richly blessed by her warmth and care. She held a special place in the hearts of her nephews-Eddie, Christopher, and Andrew-and her nieces-Adrienne, Cera, Marion, and Taylor. Betty was also a cherished mother figure to Christine, Tammy, Ramona, Alexis, and many others who found comfort and guidance in her presence. Always generous, she often opened her home to those in need, offering not just shelter but love and acceptance. Betty lived a life rooted in service-whether through her hospitality, her unwavering devotion to family, or the many quiet, compassionate acts that reflected the depth of her heart. She was preceded in death by parents Johnny Will Hayes Sr. and Sarah Hayes Pugh; grandmother Mattie Shephard Bell; mother-in-law Marion Culberth, husband Robert Williford, son Marcus Jackson, sister Mattie Will Dixon, brothers Joseph Allen Hayes and Johnny Will Hayes Jr., and brothers-in-law John Davis and Ivory Dixon. She is survived by her grandsons Jerome Jackson, Jamal Richardson, and JaMichael Jackson, great-grandchildren Laila Jackson, Javon Smith, Tamir Lamar Louissaint, Zaniyah Whitfield, and Ja'Kobi Jackson. She also leaves behind her devoted siblings: Gwendolyn Ridley Davis, Debra Evans, Reginald Culbreth, Timothy Culbreth, Dorothy McCloud, Barbara Corbin, Caroline "Carol" King, Michael (Lorraine) Hayes, Arthur (MaryAnn) Hayes, Maxine Hayes, Regina McClendon, Pamela (Dana) Cradle, Cathy (Gary) Hoover, Paul (Bonita) Hayes, James Hayes, Herbert (Melinda) Hayes, Ann (Shannon) Scott, and Amanda "Manni" Hayes; special daughter Aldina Richardson and special sister Lenora Lipscomb; along with host of other relatives and dear friends. Betty was the one you called when you needed honesty, comfort, or a reminder of what truly mattered. In honoring her life, we remember the quiet moments: early mornings, steady hands, kind eyes, and the strength of someone who simply showed up, day after day, without fanfare. Her legacy is one of love, resilience, and quiet strength-one that will guide us for generations to come.