Betty Rivers

Ms. Betty Lou Rivers (Hicks), the daughter of the late Cecil and Lottie Pegues Rivers, was born on October 31, 1949, in Chesterfield, South Carolina. She departed this life on Monday, September 22, 2025, surrounded by family. Betty received her formal education in the Chesterfield County, South Carolina, public school system. She came to live in New Haven, CT, and was employed and retired from Yale New Haven Hospital, where she worked for over 40 years in EVS and material services. She was a member of Saint James, of the late Bishop Coward, as she served as an usher in the usher's ministry. Her presence and smile will be greatly missed amongst family, neighbors, and friends. Betty leaves to cherish precious memories: Her late husband, Jerry Hicks; her two children, Rachel Lynn Rivers and Jonathan Hicks; her five grandchildren, Falon Brantley, Jonathan Hicks Jr., and Tiarra Wilkerson, Nazire and London Bethea; and her two great-grandchildren. Betty leaves behind four sisters, Louise Evans of New Haven, CT., Mary Johnson, Myrtle Lee Johnson, Roberta Lewis of Chesterfield, SC, and one brother, Ulysses Rivers (Barbara Ann), and one sister-in-law Pricilla Rivers, both of Chesterfield, SC; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and her close friends Thomasena Denny, Louise Hailey., both of New Haven, CT., and Clementine Salters, and a host of other friends. Betty is predeceased by five brothers: Cecil Rivers Jr., Willie L Rivers, CH Rivers, Thomas Rivers, and Harry Rivers. Three sisters, Massie B Matthews, Sarah J Robinson, and Lottie Mae McCoy, and one late best friend, Earmatine Woods. Betty enjoyed cooking, cleaning, and loved to swing dance; she also had a great sense of humor, laughing and having fun with her family and friends.