Bettie Raye (Smith) Akers

June 1, 1939 – June 10, 2022

Bettie Raye Smith Akers, 83, died June 10, 2022, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, MS. A native of Prentiss County, she was born on June 1, 1939, to the late Earl Ray and Delta Dee White Smith of Booneville, MS. She graduated as valedictorian of the Booneville High School class of 1956. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Blue Mountain College and her master’s and doctorate degrees in mathematics from Memphis State University. She taught at Memphis City Schools and then Northeast Mississippi Community College until retiring in 2000. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution for 32 years and the United Daughters of the Confederacy for 21 years. She was a faithful, Christian member of Little Brown Freewill Baptist Church.

Visitation will be at McMillian Funeral Home at 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Saturday, June 11, 2022. Services will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday, June 12, 2022, at McMillian Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Leonard Ball and Brother Russell Clouse officiating. Burial will follow in the Little Brown Cemetery.

Survivors include her son, Sterling Dale Akers, and his wife, Jina, of Booneville; two sisters, Mary Lynn Smith (Bernell) and Janie Gale Clouse (Russell), one brother, Mackie Don Smith (Rhonda), all of Booneville; three grandchildren, Emily Harrison (Shane) of Booneville, Evan Akers (Hayley) of Burnsville and Elizabeth Holley (Easton) of Booneville; one great grandchild, Asher Harrison of Booneville; numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 39 years, Freddie Dale Akers, whom she married May 27, 1961; one son, Stephen Ray Akers, in 1987; and one half-brother, Billy Walden Smith (Virginia).

Pallbearers will be Jackie Akers, Kenny Geno, Kent Geno, Shane Harrison, Easton Holley, Carter Smith, Jackie Smith, and Marc Smith.

Condolences may be left at www.mcmillanfuneralhome.com.

Past Services

Saturday,
June 11, 2022

Visitation

Sunday,
June 12, 2022

A Celebration of Life

Sunday,
June 12, 2022

Burial

1 thought on “Bettie Raye (Smith) Akers”

  1. Dear Akers family, one of the saddest things someone can experience is the death of a loved one. Did you know the Bible compares death to sleep? (Psalms 13:3) Just as a person who is asleep is unaware of what is happening around him, the dead are not conscious of anything. There is a promise of hope in the Bible. Our loving God has promised to awaken the dead, as if from sleep, and give them life again. Acts 24:15 says, “There is going to be a resurrection.” The bible offers comfort for those who are grieving and I hope this brings you comfort as well.

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