Bette C. Parham

Smithville - Bette Sue Parham, 82, died on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at Golden Living Nursing Center, Amory, MS. Born on October 19, 1933, in Amory, MS, she was a daughter of the late Moman A. and Rennie Lee Faulkner Howell.

Bette graduated from Hatley High School. As a youth, because of her beauty and personality, she was crowned the Forest Queen of Mississippi. She was blessed with four children during her lifetime. Bette married Ted R. Parham in 1993. She went to work at the Hatley Red Kap Industries and worked there for over 25 years. A woman who loved the Lord, she was a member of Smithville United Methodist Church. Bette was a very outgoing, loving, and funny woman who was young at heart and a total jokester. One could not slow her down as she was always on the go, doing for her family as well as others. She loved her family, her church, her pets, and her friends dearly. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren gave her great joy and during her retirement, she cherished the time spent with them. In her free time, she loved to cook, eat out, and play cards with friends. Bette also liked to listen to Gospel and Old Country music. Some of her close friends were Shelby Jean Williams, Betty Lantrip, Ruby Nell Parham, and too many others to list them all. Her sweet spirit and joking nature will be missed by all.

She is survived her son, Leslie Turman, Smithville; daughter, Leigh Smith, Smithville; grandchildren, Chris Gray (Ashley), Amory, Cheyenne C. Turman, Connecticut, Cory Gray (Victoria), New Albany, Megan Smith, Smithville; great-grandchildren, Karli Gray, Amory, Kaylin Perry, Fulton; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Susan Gray; son, Frank Chaney; three sisters; four brothers.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, April 29, 2016 at E.E. Pickle Funeral Home in Amory with Rev. Charles Coggins and Rev. Sammy Washburn officiating. Burial will follow in Hatley Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her nephews. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Hatley Class of 1951.

Visitation will be on Thursday, April 28, 2016, from 5:00 - 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.
Donations may be given to the Smithville United Methodist Church, 60003 Gum Street, Smithville, MS, 38870.

Memories and condolences may be shared with her family at eepicklefuneralhome.com.