Betty “Coates” Ryfun went to be with our Lord on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at the age of 77. Betty was born on August 9, 1945, in Brunswick, GA. She grew up in Brunswick, and was a graduate of Glynn Academy.
Betty married her high school sweetheart, Michael (Mike) Poppell, and together, they had three daughters. Mike and Betty spent much of their young adult married life as active youth leaders at Pine Ridge Baptist Church in Brunswick, GA, until Mike’s illness, and later on death, in 1975, After Mike Poppell’s death, Betty moved to New Orleans, LA, where she worked for the president of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Betty was a gifted public speaker, and she spent many weekends during her time in New Orleans traveling with her girls to various churches and large conferences, where she gave her testimony of how God used her and Mike to minister to others during Mike’s 2 ½ years of illness at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, GA.
Betty married Michael (Mike) Ryfun in August of 1978, and they moved to Hinesville, GA. Betty and Mike took in many foster children during their time there. They were certified foster parents to over 12 children, including one, Jessica Wilson, whom they adopted as their fourth daughter. Betty’s love of children was infectious. Several of the children that Betty and Mike fostered still call her “Mom” to this day, including Sandy Kidd Galloway, whom they loved as one of their own.
Mike and Betty relocated to Pelham, GA in 1981. Betty worked for First Baptist Church and was an active leader in the church and in the community. Her gift of leadership later led her into several Human Resource positions, including Sunnyland in Thomasville, GA. After she and Mike moved to Tifton, GA, Betty took a full time HR position with Prestolite Wire and later became a consultant for Heatcraft. Betty later decided to begin her own consulting company (Ryfun Associates). She traveled globally teaching the DISC personality profile, training many organizations and corporations on how to understand not just themselves, but how to understand others, in order to build better relationships and stronger teams in the workforce. Betty won many awards as a result of her incredible training.
Betty was the kind of woman that made you feel like you were the most important person in the world. She lived a life of servanthood, always putting others before herself. Her love of people was contagious, and she strived to see the good in everyone she met. Her personality was larger than life and could light up any room she entered. She was a born leader, a gifted teacher, but most of all, the best friend anyone could have. The impact that Betty had on others will leave a legacy that will live on in the lives of those who were fortunate enough to have known her.
Over the course of her life, Betty had many titles and positions, but the most important title that Betty was ever given was that of “Bebe.” She loved her eight grandchildren with every fiber of her being. Betty’s (Bebe’s) goal with her grandchildren, children, and friends was to always, “Make a Memory.” She and Mike spent many moments making Easter Bunny cakes, playing board games, night hunting for crab at the beach, hosting talent shows in the living room, etc. with their beloved grandchildren. She and Mike (Poppy) created the “BebePop Club” with their eight grandchildren. They took annual vacations to the beach with all of their family. It was there that the BebePop Club was in full force. They had club meetings, club officers, and even a special “Pledge'' that they recited at the start of their meetings. Betty’s grandchildren were her greatest gift, and she took every opportunity possible to invest in their lives.
Betty was very involved with CASA in Tifton. She loved children, and she acted on that love by being an advocate for children who could not advocate for themselves. She recently was a vital part of advocating for three special siblings and celebrating their legal adoption. She was also very involved with Ruth’s Cottage & Patticake House in Tifton. She used her DISC personality profile training to work with various teams and staff to build relationships and to be a mediator and cheerleader. Ruth’s Cottage & Patticake House will present its first ever “Betty Ryfun Volunteer of the Year Award” on February 7 to an outstanding volunteer.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Velma Coates, her husbands, Michael Poppell and Michael Ryfun, her daughter, Jessica Wilson, her granddaughter, Emily Shiver, and her sister, Mary Kay Easterling. She is survived by her daughters Angie Smith (Brinson), Amy Shiver, and Alison Snipes (Steven); grandchildren Kayla Ponton (Kyle), Haley Smith, Parker Smith, Meredith Shiver, Amelia Snipes, Colin Snipes, and Andy Wilson. She is also survived by her sister, Dorothy Dixon of Brunswick.
The family will receive friends from 1:00-3:00 on Saturday, January 21, at Northside Baptist Church in Tifton, GA. There will be a memorial service to follow at 3:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Ruth’s Cottage & Patticake House in Tifton, GA.: Ruth’s Cottage & Patticake House, P.O. Box 2727, Tifton, GA 31793.