Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Baird Graves

Mary Elizabeth Betty Baird Graves, 93, of Kingsport, passed from this life on August 17, 2010. She was a great lover of all things beautiful: flowers, friendships, fashion, nature, and her church.

Born in 1917 in Prince George, Virginia, she later married Bruce Quentin Graves 1908-2006 in 1937. As a couple of nearly seventy years, they were active in church and community life in Buena Vista, Virginia; Bristol, Virginia; and Kingsport.

Surviving are two daughters, Brenda Baird Goslee, and husband David, Knoxville; and Elizabeth Bette Deane Roop, and husband Richard, Henderson, North Carolina; and four grandchildren: Elizabeth Graves Helvey, Ojai, California; John Watson Helvey III, Knoxville; Richard Graves Roop, Durham, North Carolina; and Anna Roop White and husband Mark, New York, New York. Greatgrandchildren include Rosemary Helvey-Byers, Ojai, California; Benjamin White and Emma White, New York, New York.
Also surviving are one sister, Dorothy Baird Stansell, Prince George, Virginia, and several nieces and nephews.

In her later years, Betty was able to continue to live in her beloved home with the devoted help of David and Jean Hall, Cathy and Dwain Noel, and Ron and Marilyn Bellamy. These friends and the congregation of Glen Alpine UMC were very dear to her.

The family will receive friends at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport, on Wednesday, August 18 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The burial will be Thursday, August 19, at noon at East Lawn Memorial Park, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. at Glen Alpine UMC, Kingsport, with Rev. Dale Gilbert officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Glen Alpine United Methodist Church, Building Fund, 3200 Glen Alpine Road, Kingsport, TN 37660.