Betty Carolyn Claxton, 76, of Tifton died Saturday, February 27, 2010, at the Presbyterian Home in Quitman. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church. Rev. Sam Rogers, Rev. Glenn Martin and Rev. James Claxton will officiate with burial to follow at Burke Memorial Gardens in Waynesboro. Her nephews, Bob Claxton, Bill Claxton, Brian Jobmann, Wes Lunsford, Joel Ivey and John Owen will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Loyalty Sunday School Class of Tifton’s First United Methodist Church, the ABAC School of Business (past and present members), the ABAC Woman’s Club. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Ms. Claxton was born January 24, 1934, in Girard, and was the daughter of Thomas B. Claxton and Gladys B. Claxton, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by one sister, Mary Evelyn Heath; three brothers, Thomas B. Claxton, Jr., James R. Claxton, Sr., and Raiford L. Claxton; and three nephews. She was graduated from Georgia Southern University, Appalachian State University and the University of Georgia. She taught college for 39 years with 34 of those years at ABAC. While at ABAC, she served for 25 years as faculty advisor for Phi Beta Lambda and had several students to win awards at the national level. In 1972, she received the Teacher of the Year Award. She was a member of the ABAC President’s Club, a charter member of the ABAC Woman’s Club and the Accounting Lab at ABAC is named in her honor, The Betty Claxton Accounting Lab. She owned and operated Claxton Income Tax Preparation Business in Tifton.
For 18 years, Ms. Claxton worked as a Sunday school teacher and served in various church offices at Herring Memorial Church. As a member of the First United Methodist Church in Tifton, she served as chairman of the Missions Committee, served on the Council of Ministries and rotated on and off the Finance Committee. She was president of the Loyalty Sunday school Class for many years and taught the Sunday School lesson once a month. She helped to count the money for the church every Monday morning. She had a love and appreciation for International Missions, going to Brazil and Bolivia on trips of study and mercy.
Ms. Claxton is survived by two sisters, Mildred Ivey of East Point and Bashie McMicken of Gold Beach, Oregon; three sisters-in-law, Maude Claxton of Statesboro, Julia Smith of Moultrie and Patricia Puckett of Atlanta; 16 nieces and nephews; 27 great nieces and nephews; and 3 great great nephews. She was also survived by her miniature, silver poodle, Snoopy.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Betty Claxton Accounting Lab at ABAC; the First United Methodist Church in Tifton; or the Bethany United Methodist Church in Girard.