Bettybel Knight

Bettybel Sneed Knight, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 15 th , just a little over a week shy of her 97 th birthday. She was born on Christmas Eve 1928, which always made her birthday memorable, but she would tell you it was her name, that set her apart. She said she had never encountered another Bettybel, and if you had the pleasure of knowing her, you would understand this to be true in innumerable ways.

Betty grew up on a rural farm on the Jacksonville/Cabot line in Arkansas. She attended and graduated from Jacksonville High School but determined, with sewing machine in hand, to pursue a degree in Home Economics at State Teachers College in Conway. Although she enjoyed her time there, life had other plans. When she met aspiring golf pro Fred Knight, life was about to get even more interesting. Fred and Bettybel were married on Oct.24 th , 1954 and shared 65 years together. With the birth of their twin sons, Kerry and Keith, they headed south to Louisiana, where they raised their boys in Thibodaux, LA., for 25 years. When their son Keith fell out of a tree and into an extended coma at 11 years old, Betty’s life once again changed directions. Miraculously, Keith emerged from his coma, however he would have to relearn virtually everything, but Betty was there to meet the challenge. Although Keith made incredible progress, he died an early death at 25 years old, with his twin brother Kerry dying a short 5 years later.

With this kind of loss, one could easily understand if bitterness and sorrow seemed to overshadow her life, but Betty went in another direction. She lived close to an art studio in Gray, Louisiana where celebrated artist Henry Hensche of Provincetown, Massachusetts was in residence. Betty immersed herself in painting, learning everything she could as she acquired and enjoyed a new skill and a treasured friendship with Henry and his wife Dottie.

When retirement was the next move, Fairfield Bay, Arkansas became the destination of choice. Betty found new friends in her community and was an active member of West Side First Baptist Church in Greers Ferry. She was part of a vocal trio that performed at numerous events and fulfilled her musical pursuits as well. As a follower of Jesus, her strong faith helped her through her darkest days and seemed to buoy her forward to appreciate all that she still had to be grateful for.

Bettybel was preceded in death by her parents, Wilbert and Esther Sneed, her husband Fred M. Knight, and her sons, Kerry and Keith Knight, three brothers, W.L. Sneed Jr., Robert Dean Sneed, Paul Harold Sneed and one sister, Sharon Murray. Also, preceded in death is sister-in-law Elsie Sneed and brother-in-law Tim Murray and nephew Sean Murray. She is survived by her sister-in-law Paula Sneed, nieces Terrie Packard, Vickie (Greg) Davis, Linda Sneed, Lorraine (John) Owens, Laura Elizabeth (Michael) Duncan, and nephew Dan (Sonya) Sneed, and a host of great nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at Presbyterian Village in Little Rock on Thursday, January 8 th at 10:00 a.m., with a family graveside service at 11:30 at Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, Cabot, AR. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Presbyterian Village Foundation. The family wishes to thank the many wonderful friends and dedicated partners at Presbyterian Village who made this journey a better one, with your care and concern throughout this transition. We would also like to thank Arkansas Hospice.