Betty Jean Belton - Obituary

iss. Betty Belton departed this life on Dec. 20, 2020. She was gently escorted to her heavenly resting place. Betty was born on June 28, 1943 to the late Eli and Malinda Dale Belton. She was the oldest of four children born to this union; two brothers: Eli Jr. and John Alvin (both deceased) and one sister, Pauline Renee. She was born and reared in Washington, DC. She was educated in the DC public school system, graduating from Dunbar High School, NW DC. She also attended George Washington University nursing program where graduated as a Licensed Nurse Practitioner. She loved and enjoyed working in the medical profession. She grew up in the Apostolic/Pentecostal church community. She grew up in the Way of Cross Church of Christ under the leadership of the late Henry C. Brooks. She later moved her membership to the Holy Temple Church of Christ under the leadership of the late Bishop Joseph Weathers. She later served at the Victory Pentecostal Church assisting her Stepfather and her Mother (both deceased), and Pastor Duval and Sis. Helen Baker in the mission there. Her last fellowship was at New Jerusalem Church in Laurel, Maryland. Under the leadership of Pastor Joseph and First Lady Amy Jackson. In all of her fellowships, she sang in many choirs, served as junior and senior missionary, served as events planner. She planned trips to California and Hawaii as well as many bus excursions. She was a missionary to Haiti. Betty never faltered in her commitment to Jesus Christ. This was this was the one constant in her life. Jesus was front and center. One of her favorite live-by scriptures that she quoted often was ‘I am steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord my work is not in vain.” She often said I shall never be moved from him. She worked at GW Hospital for many years. She resigned in the 1980’s to assist her mom in caring for Pauline, who had a paralyzing stroke. She was later stricken with a stroke. In spite of all this, her attitude never changed. She was always the social butterfly, never complaining, never negative. She always included and embraced everyone that she met. Even though she had a physical disability, her service to God never ended. • During the early days of tele-conferencing, she organized a mentor program for failing students, praying with them and insisting them in their homework preparation. She always held children and the under privileged close to her heart. She mentored a female student who was totally failing, but through Betty’s mentoring program she graduated with honors from her class. • She always planned dinners to give people a break most times paying for all that could not afford to pay. She was a member of morning call ministries, from its inception until her death. She enjoyed going to the Maryland Senior picnic day each year. She was a member of the Maryland Senior Club in Camp Springs, MD. She was involved with Independence Now, an organization that reached out to People with Disabilities in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. She joined many support groups at Southern Maryland Hospital in order to provide assistance for hurting people. This list could go on and on. Betty loved life and she loved to laugh! No down time for her. She was kind, compassionate, patient, loved people and always wanted to make life brighter for all. Memories will be cherished by her sister Pauline Renee Belton, two nephews, Josh and Eric Belton, two nieces, Gabrielle and Jayla Belton, special God sister, Helen Lewis, Sister in Law, Stephanie Belton. Her God children: Hoyt P. Glover, Veronica Glover. Many God sisters and God brothers; Inita Redd, Willie Robinson, Carmenta Hayes, Rhonda Richmond, James Bonnette, Linda Bonnette, Elizabeth Miller, Cynthia Baltimore; a host of cousins and family members: the Dales, the Belton’s, the Bradley’s, the Walton’s the Fennell’s and a host of church families and friends. If Betty could speak today, she will compel us with one her famous sayings, “Reach out and touch-if nobody reaches, nobody gets touched. Touch someone with your life-be that living epistle.” Betty touched many people with her life. Question: So what now? Answer: We persevere, we endure, we fight, and hold out until the end because we expect the promise of 1 Corinthians 15: 51-58- • A mystery not all sleep, but all changed, • Corruption now, then incorruption, • Mortal now, then immortality, • Death swallowed up, • Therefore, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, your labor in the Lord is not in vain. A memorial gathering will be held on Thursday, January 14 from 11 a.m. until the start of the memorial service at 11:30 a.m. at the KALAS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD.