Betsy Dodson graduated from Earth School on June 27th, 2026 at the age of 83 with an advanced degree in humility, patience and unconditional love. She acquired these gifts of the spirit through her ancestors, her family and friends who taught her the meaning of living a joyful life. She passed on these gifts to her children who will always remember her kindness, love and inner beauty with reverence.

Betsy lived a life in Three Acts. In Act One, under the watchful guidance of her loving parents Leah and Richard Williams, she developed a confident and creative personality. As the oldest of three, she led and inspired her siblings in the small community of Pamplin, Virginia (population 500) with a sense of humor and adventure, eventually choosing to leave her home town and pursue a degree in fashion design in Richmond. Her sister Emily remembers her as great listener who could always be counted on when she needed a shoulder to lean on, or as a model on how to live life to it’s fullest. Even more impressive for a young woman in 1965, was her decision to take her brand new navy-blue Chevy Malibu (with four on the floor) to Atlanta and begin a career as a buyer for Rich’s Department Store. Her Momma and Daddy were worried of course, but they had a strong faith.

This faith which Betsy cultivated in her Methodist community served her well when she met her future husband, Eddie Sheppard in Atlanta and chose to follow him into Act Two of her life where she became the devoted mother of four children who adored her. After designing and sewing her own wedding dress, she left her job, her friends, and moved to the low country of Savannah where she soon made even more wonderful friends and was indoctrinated into the large Irish Catholic community as one of their own.

As the fierce protector of a brood of four small tow-headed children, she became known in her community as someone not to be trifled with when her children were in harm’s way or had confrontations with authority. Though not a fan of violence, a sawed off axe handle was never far away if absolutely necessary to persuade someone she meant business.

A private woman who kept her own counsel, she loved the act of creating and could be found sewing or gardening or cooking in her home on Maupas Ave, creating clothes for her children and grandchildren to wear on special occasions like baptisms, weddings, Christmas and even St. Patricks Day. Her talent for nurturing plants she inherited from her parents and passed on to her daughter Lauren. She was sentimental about the azalea, the gardenia, the hydrangea and the camellia she planted to represent each of her children in her garden. Her mother-in-law, good friend and mentor, known affectionately as Nana, passed on skills as a cook until Betsy was proficient at delivering a mean fried chicken dinner complete with mashed potatoes and gravy.

A lover of dogs, her devotion to her first and most faithful companion Bow was evident in the many litters of puppies she delivered and donated to families in need of a marvelous genetic strain of East Broad Geechee which lives on in the low country.

Mama B, as she was known by her grandchildren, had the peculiar habit of reverting to her native dialect whenever she was excited, often exclaiming to her offspring’s delight such choice phrases as “Shake a bush you can’t talk!” …or “What’s that got to do with the price of eggs in China?” …or comparing someone’s inflated ego to the benefits of “Carter’s Little Liver Pills.” and the mild often appropriate insult, “You ain’t got brains to bell a buzzer.”

Betsy loved her adopted community and was instrumental in organizing the Baldwin Park Neighborhood Organization, singing in the Blessed Sacrament Church choir and generally inspiring people with her cheerful determined nature. It was this determined nature that led her into Act Three of her life where she chose to strike out on her own once more and find new love with her husband Jeff Dodson. She made even more new friends and embraced a life after retirement on Tybee Island where she relished the joyful presence of her many grandchildren. She was adored by her second husband Jeff, and could be counted on to hold hands similar to the way she held her children whenever they needed her touch. Her grandchildren especially remember her fondly for always “stealing their sugar” and making them giggle with delight as she spoiled them with an unabashed grandmother’s right.

 As a woman of a deeply inherent natural faith, Betsy was able to convey the message of unconditional love to all whose heart was open to her. Mama B’s light will live on in the spirit of all those she nurtured and loved.

In addition to her husband Jeff Dodson, Betsy leaves behind her sister Emily Turnure(Marvin) of Tybee Island, daughter Erin Joyce (Michael) of Metter, her son Ted Sheppard (Liz) of Savannah, her son Brendan Sheppard (Marlene) of Atlanta and her youngest daughter Lauren Williams (Corey) of Savannah, seven grandchildren Devin, Madeline, Cyrus, Ian, Collin, Nora and Emmie as well as one great grandchild, Oaken. Betsy was preceded in death by her brother, Richard (Dicky) Williams.

 A celebration of life will be held at the Tybee Island Guard House on November 14th from 11:00 to 3:00.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests you consider a donation in Betsy’s memory to Hospice Savannah, P.O. Box 13190, Savannah, Georgia 31416.