Betty Jean Richmond

Betty J. Bailey Richmond was born in Birmingham, Alabama to Earnest and Katie Bailey, she is the third of four children. Betty graduated from Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama, then attended Booker T. Washington Business College. She started her career as a nursing assistant at a Pediatrician's Office in Birmingham, Alabama. Betty was married for the first time at the age of 18 and traveled with her first husband to Germany as a dependent. Betty then joined the Women’s Army Corp in 1960 until 1965. She toured to Frankford, Germany twice, Denver, Colorado, Walter Reed in Washington, D. C., and El Paso, Texas twice. Betty fell in love with the mountains here in El Paso so much that she asked God to send her back and that is exactly what HE did. Betty moved to El Paso in 1970 and has been in El Paso ever since. She worked at William Beaumont Army Medical Center from 1971 to 1980. She attended Community College where she received her 2-year RN and continued on to the College of St. Frances where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree. She was hired at R E Thomason Hospital which is now known as University Hospital in 1984. In 1996 was transferred over to El Paso Psychiatric Center. She retired in 1999 from nursing and went into Ombudsman for 14 years. Betty married her last husband, January 1, 1998, after Watch Meeting Service at Unity Missionary Baptist Church to the late Brother Fred Richmond that God sent to her when she was not wanting or looking for a man. Fred brought such happiness to her life. She started attending Unity Missionary Baptist Church in 1971, joined in 1975, and remained a member until her passing. She formed Unity’s first children’s group called the “Sunlight Missionary Band” and went on to work for the Lord as Secretary of the Ushers, Director of the Mission Choir, Nurse’s Guile, Mission One, Mission Two, Caring Ministry, Leadership Council, Home Bound Ministry, and Sunday School Teacher. Betty visited the sick and shut-in throughout the community at their homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities for many, many years until her health prevented her from doing so. Betty is a Breast Cancer survivor since June 17, 1967. She continued to encourage, pray, and sing to anyone she could. Betty was recognized on May 18, 2017, by the Mayor and Council of the City of El Paso, making May 21, 2017, “Mrs. Betty Richmond Day”. Left behind to mourn her passing are two Sisters, Ernestine B. Fair, Birmingham, Alabama, and Gwendolyn B. Smith, Los Angeles, California. God-Daughters, Addie Townsend (Lonnie Townsend Sr.), Mary A. Whitman-Jackson, and LaShon Covington (Fred). Grandchildren, LaKesha A. Jackson, Lonnie Townsend, Jr., Michelle M. Townsend Wronie L. Kimble, Tylicia, Quinton, Tiana, Cameron, Tayah, and Fred Covington and a host of Great-Grandchildren. In lieu of flowers Mother Richmond requested donations be made to the Breast Cancer Foundation.