Bettye Smith Pierce
Bettye Smith Pierce passed away peacefully on March 16, 2024 at St. Catherine's Village where she and her husband Jim of 70 years had been residents since November 2014.
She was born on October 24, 1933, and was the only child of Bessie and J. Herman Smith of Kosciusko, MS. Bettye was a member of Highland Colony Baptist Church of Ridgeland, MS. She was a graduate of Millsaps College and a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. For many years she and Jim made their home in Yazoo City where for 25 years she owned and operated Bettye Pierce Realty. Afterward, she operated as a Broker representing the buying and selling of property throughout MS and Florida. Bettye was one of the first women to enter Real Estate in MS having been licensed in 1960. She was an active member of the Jackson Board of Realtors.
During the time Bettye lived in Yazoo City, she was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Yazoo City, the president of Yazoo City Junior Auxiliary, the State treasurer of the MS Branch of Kings Daughters and Sons, and the first lady elected as a Director of Yazoo County Chamber of Commerce. She also served as a director of the late Unifirst Savings and Loan, Yazoo City Branch. Mrs. Pierce was selected in 1985 as the Mississippi Woman in Business Advocate and appeared in Outstanding Young Women of America and Personalities of the South. During her many years of residing in Jackson and Madison, she had been a member of the LaSoiree luncheon club and the Heirloom Antique Club.
Bettye is survived by her husband James A. Pierce (Jim), and two daughters, Cynthia (Mark) Jordan and Sheri (Mark) Williams. She has seven grandchildren. Anne Woodard and Virginia (Greg) Richardson of Nashville, TN, Tommy Woodard of Jackson, David Woodard of Madison, Jon Mark (Lindsay) Jordan of Madison, and Meagan (Collin) Fahrenkopf and Pierce Jordan of Dallas, TX. 11 Great-grandchildren also survive her.
Services were held at St. Catherine's Village Chapel on March 22, 2024.
Memorial gifts may be made to Vaiden Cemetery Association, PO Box 206, Vaiden, MS, 39176, or St. Catherine's Village, 200 Dominican Drive, Madison, MS 39110.