SOUTHAVEN — Bettye Little Porter, age 77, passed away on Wednesday, May 8, at Baptist Hospital in Memphis.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, May 18, with visitation at 10 a.m. and service to follow at 11 am at Colonial Hills Church, 7701 Hwy 51, Southaven, with Daniel Campbell officiating.
Bettye was born in Crenshaw to Dave Little and Effie Rice Cornelius Little. She married Jerry Porter on August 1, 1964 in Sledge.
She was a homemaker, published author, and substitute schoolteacher. She was a former community news writer for The Sun-Sentinel, and was active in many charities and church work. Favorite charities included CARE in Charleston, the Cancer Society, Friends of the Library, St. Jude, and Wounded Warrior Project. She also was an active volunteer with The Hagar Center in Memphis, a charity for teen mothers. She served Jesus at Paynes Baptist Church near Charleston, Colonial Hills Church, Southaven and Hope Church, Cordova, Tenn.
Bettye is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jerry Porter; sisters, Barbara Wilson, Fran Cummins, Sadie Moore, and Patricia Cook; brothers, David Little, Charlie Cornelius and two special nephews dear to her, Sam Mason Jr. and Carl Dwayne Brower.
Bettye is survived by her children, Beverly Campbell (Daniel) and Jerry Porter and niece Jennifer Freeman (Jamie) who was like a daughter to her; sister, Jean Overall; grandchildren, Danielle Nino de Guzman (Jorge), Joshua (Samantha) Campbell, Ian (Gretchen) Campbell, Kailee Porter and J.J. Porter; bonus grandchildren, Tara Franklin, Tori Morris (Jeffrey), Adam Denley and Chad Denley; 14 great-grandchildren and numerous other nieces, nephews, and extended family.
The family requests memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
