Betty Ann Chapman

Betty Ann Chapman was born on April 15, 1935 at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. She was the only child of Julian Earle and Emily Nock Smith. She passed away on February 19, 2025, barely two months shy of her ninetieth birthday.

After graduating from North Fulton High School in Atlanta, Betty Ann received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Auburn University. While at Auburn, she was a member of Delta Zeta sorority and served as their rush chairman.

At Auburn, she met her future husband, W.L. Chapman, Jr. (Bill). They married in 1958 at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta and moved to Chattanooga where Bill was in private veterinary practice and Betty Ann served on the local Panhellenic Council.

Betty Ann and Bill moved often as he pursued graduate studies, naming Ft. Collins, Colorado as their favorite place. Their daughters, Susan and Karen, were born in Athens, where the family eventually settled for good. 

Betty Ann and Bill loved football. She never was afraid to yell for “her” team – Auburn. Betty Ann loved it from the day she arrived on campus and that love lasted until the day she died.

She was a member of Athens First United Methodist Church – which offered great support to her and to her family. Betty Ann was a former member of the Buckhead Girls Club and the American Association of University Women. She enjoyed her bridge groups, garden club, art, decorating, reading, painting, scrapbooking, cooking and entertaining. Betty Ann particularly loved the holidays and was known for her elaborate Christmas decorations. 

Betty Ann was glad to get back to Atlanta -- and especially Buckhead -- often as there was always a special place in her heart for where she grew up. Some of her happiest memories growing up came from summers spent at various beaches, and then with her family at Hilton Head Island and Isle of Palms.

After Bill’s retirement from UGA, they began the travels they had looked forward to for so many years. They traveled often, mostly in Europe. Their favorite countries were Italy and Greece. Betty Ann and Bill also enjoyed taking many classes through the Learning in Retirement program.

Having a loving family and good friends throughout life were for her the greatest blessings of all. Betty Ann treasured her Athens friends, along with those she met in the many places they lived and traveled. However, her greatest happiness came from her family – her husband Bill, daughters Susan and Karen, granddaughter Courtney and Courtney’s husband John, and her great-granddaughter Maddie. Most of all, family and friends brought her the greatest happiness and joy to her life.

As Betty Ann said, “There are many things you can do in life and many accomplishments, but when you have made someone – a loved one, a friend or a stranger -- happy or made their life better, that is the greatest reward of all.”

She is survived by her daughters Susan Ann Chapman of Nashville and Karen Leigh Chapman, her granddaughter Courtney Reese Durham (John) and her great-granddaughter Madelyn Elizabeth Durham, all of Newnan, Georgia.

Betty Ann and Bill spent sixty happy years together before his passing in 2018. She was also predeceased by her parents.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 24 at 2 p.m. with a visitation preceding the service at 1 p.m. at Athens First United Methodist Church. A private family burial was held on Sunday, February 23 at Oconee Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: 

Shepherd Center Foundation

2020 Peachtree Road NW

Atlanta, GA 30309

or 

American Red Cross

PO Box 37839

Boone, IA 50037-0839