We respectfully announce the passing of Mrs. Betty Phillips Bedgood of Newnan, Georgia on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at Piedmont Newnan Healthcare.

Graveside Services will be held on Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 1:00 CST at Elmwood Cemetery located at 600 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35211. Rev. Cleavon Meabon III will officiate.

Public viewing will be held on Wednesday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Due to COVID-19 concerns everyone in attendance at the Graveside Service and the Public Viewing must wear a mask and social distancing is encouraged.

Arrangements entrusted to Thrash and Sons Funeral Home, 117 West Main Street, Hogansville Georgia 30230. Ph 706-637-8791 Fax 706-637-8796.

Betty Ann Phillips Bedgood, the oldest child of the late Charles Louis and Annie Mary Phillips, was born on March 18, 1939, in Birmingham, Alabama. She was baptized at an early age at St. Matthew A.M.E. Church. She departed this life on January 13, 2022.

Betty was educated in the Birmingham Public School System. She was a 1957 graduate of A.H. Parker High School. Upon graduation from high school, Betty attended and graduated from Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama, with a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education.

On October 16, 1958, she married Cleveland Bedgood, Jr. To this union was born three children – Terri, Candace and Richard.

Cleveland and Betty moved to Georgia after accepting teaching positions in Meriwether County. Betty taught 7th grade math and science for over 30 years. After retirement, she enjoyed many years of substitute teaching in Meriwether and Coweta Counties.

Music was an important and integral part of her life. She was gifted with the ability to sing and play piano. She played piano for her Sunday School class at St. Matthew A.M.E. Church, at various programs at Luthersville Elementary School, and at local churches. Betty became a member of St. Paul C.M.E. Church in Lone Oak, Georgia and served as pianist there for 40 years. Betty was a 45-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and served as musician for Theta Xi Omega Chapter for 36 years. She also nurtured young musicians in the area by giving them piano lessons.

Betty was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, musician and friend. Many of her former students cite her as having been their favorite teacher. She had a very warm smile and friendly personality that made everyone she met feel at ease. She enjoyed talking to anyone, whether she knew you well or not. She also possessed a wicked sense of humor, which her friends and family adored.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Louis Phillips and Eugene G. Phillips.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of 63 years, Cleveland Bedgood, Jr., 3 children: Terri, Candace Stiles (Raymond), Richard (Michele); 6 grandchildren: Annelise Stiles, Marissa Stiles, Suzanne Stiles, Rachel Stiles, Richard Bedgood IV and Peyton Bedgood; one aunt: Flora Kavanaugh; two nephews, one niece and a host of other relatives and friends.

Arrangements by Thrash and Sons Funeral Home.

In Lieu of Flowers please make donations to St. Paul CME Church, P.O. Box 35, Hogansville, Georgia 30230.