Wethers, Bettye Louise Bagnerise (Mrs. Carl T.)

Mrs. Bettye Louise Bagnerise Wethers (Mother Bettye) devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother expired on Saturday morning, December 20, 1997 at the home of her daughter in Baker, Louisiana. She was ninety-four years old. She was lovingly and tenderly cared for by her daughter, granddaughters and great-grandson for eleven years, after her husband expired in 1985.
Mrs. Wethers was born in Franklin, Louisiana to Joseph Richard Bagnerise and Pauline Blunt Bagnerise. She attended Elementary School in St. Mary Parish and High School and College at New Orleans University (Dillard University). She married Carl Theodore Wethers and to this union was born one child, Thelma Louise Wethers.
Mother Bettye was a native of Berwick, Louisiana and a longtime resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During earlier years she was an Elementary school teacher, following in the footsteps of her Mother, who was an Elementary School Principal until she retired in Berwick, Louisiana. Later, she became an agent for Unity Life Insurance Co., as was her brother, Everett.
Mother Bettye, a Christian woman, and late husband, the Rev. Dr. Carl T. Wethers served the Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church together for fifty years. Beginning with the Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church she served as First Lady of Hughes United Methodist Church. At Hughes she was a very active church worker and fund-raiser, willingly directing and playing the piano for both the Senior and Junior choirs, assisted by her daughter. Her first love of the church and duty to the church was working with children and youth of the church and the community. She was First Lady of the Baton Rouge District (Central Jurisdiction) for six years while her husband served as District Superintendent. She was also former President of the Minister’s Wives Association (Central Jurisdiction).
Other outstanding affiliations and titles include First Lady of Grace United Methodist Church, New Orleans, LA; Camphor United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge, LA; St. Mark United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge, LA; Warren United Methodist Church, Lake Charles, LA and other churches; member of Camphor’s Minister’s Wives Support Group; Former President of Friends of Delta; member of the Star of West Chapter No. 50 of the Order of Eastern Star, Berwick/Morgan City, LA; and Co-owner of East End Theater.
Survived by daughter, Mrs. Thelma Wethers McDonald, Baker, LA; granddaughters, Mrs. Niemha McDonald Lowe, New Orleans, LA; Mrs. Mada McDonald Clark; great-grandson, Bryant Augustus Clark, Baton Rouge; sister-in-law, Mrs. Evangeline Wethers Augustus, Lorman, MS; nieces, Dr. Joyce Johnson Bolden, Lorman, MS; Mrs. Evangeline Jeffrion Bennett, Baton Rouge, LA; Mrs. Pamela Bolden Grayson, New Orleans, LA; nephews, Frederick J. Jeffrion, Carson, CA; nephew/godchild, Col. Joseph W. Bagnerise, Dumfries, VA; Al Wethers Johnson, Lorman, MS; James Arthur Wethers, Chicago, IL; cousin, Mrs. Rozina Wright, Burfford, Los Angeles, CA; Mrs. Anna Belle Bagnerise and family, Los Angeles, CA; and loving nieces, nephews and cousins.
Preceded in death by husband, the Rev. Dr. Carl T. Wethers; father, Joseph Richard Bagnerise; mother, Mrs. Pauline Blunt Bagnerise Wims; step-father, Columbus Wims; brother, Everett Richard Bagnerise; uncle, Eddie (Paran) Blunt; son-in-law, Moses L. McDonald; father and mother-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. William H. Wethers I; brother-in-law, Dr. William H. Wethers II; sister-in-law, Mrs. Mae Daffey Wethers; sister-in-law, Mrs. Thelma Wethers Johnson; brother-in-law, Alcee L. Johnson and other relatives.
Mrs. Wethers funeral, A Celebration of Life, was held Wednesday, December 24, 1997, 12:00 noon, Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge, LA., Rev. Roger D. Lathan, Pastor. Interment was in Port Hudson National Cemetery, Port Hudson, Louisiana.

Nothing beautiful in
this world is ever really lost –
Those we cherish will always live
on in memory.