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D. C. BETTS In Memory of a Departed Brother Surnames: On February 3rd, the
death angel visited the Ward Chapel Community and Claimed for its victim one of the highest esteemed
citizens of Atoka County, a man who was esteemed by all who knew him. The subject of this sketch was
our beloved Brother D. C. Betts, who was born April 25, 1870, being reared by Christian parents. He
heeded their admonition 17 years ago. He join the Missionary Baptist church and for the last
fourteen years has been an ordained deacon in that good body and well does this author of the sketch
remember the first time he ever met this worker, seventeen years ago, at a little mission Sunday
school at Hickory Hill, when he proved himself a true soldier of Christ, and it has been my
privilege to be closely associated with Brother Betts these past seventeen years, and have always
found him a true man in financial way and also in a fraternal way, and above all true to his God.
Several years ago he became a member of the Independent Order of Oddfellows of Atoka Lodge No. 395,
and lived so true to his obligation that his life though he is dead still speaks the emblems of the
beloved order, Friendship, Love and Trust. And it was his request that his lodge bury him. So on
Tuesday, February 4, a number of the brothers gathered at the home of the deceased, where Brother
Renfore preached a beautiful funeral sermon to his loved ones, a host of friends and acquaintances.
Then a band of Odd Fellows took charge of the corpse and conveyed it to the family cemetery, being
followed by a large procession, there they laid him to rest in accordance with their order. And we
want to say to the bereaved ones of this departed Brother, not to weep for Brother Betts—he is not
dead, but has gone to love with God. Submitted by Carl Phillips, great nephew of D. C. Betts, April 9, 2000 Carl@jps.net |
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