Memorial Service Friday, January 18, 2013 11:00pm Long Beach Colonial Mortuary Chapel 638 Atlantic Ave Long Beach, CA 90802

Betty Jean Hurd was born on April 4, 1935 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She was the youngest of Joe and Violet Hurd's 13 children. By the age of six, both of her parents had died; her older sister Mable, who has preceded her death, raised her.

Betty loved to cook, especially at holiday time. Her specialties were sweet potato pie, cakes and chitterlings. Her family's personal favorite was drunk stew and cornbread. Betty's most notable hobbies were ironing, watching game shows, reading Harlequin romance novels, and listening to the blues and gospel music.

She rarely complained about her health as it declined but always had a funny story to tell, like the jokes she would tell about "Arthie," her nickname for arthritis; when you asked "How are you doing, Betty?" she would say, "Girl, I'm alive!" and laugh warmly.

Betty was a joyful, uplifting, positive person who loved her family deeply. She was more than willing to help others but her family always came first. Betty loved children and having them around. She raised five kids on her own and babysat countless other relatives and family friends. Because of her outgoing nature and wisecracking personality, she made friends everywhere she went. Everyone knew Miss Betty and her kids.

Betty leaves behind five children, Robert Funches, Sheila Nelson, Rochelle Jennings, Andrea Harris, Frank Wilson; five grandchildren, Jovonny, Michael, Michelle, Jeanette, Tamara; eleven great-grand children; her best friend and partner in crime, Doris Piggee; and many other relatives and friends.