Mrs. Betty Banks Kicklighter, age 90, of Warthen peacefully passed away on February 25, 2022, at the Washington County Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, February 27th at 5:00 P.M. in the May and Smith Funeral Home Chapel. Reverend Tim Powell will officiate. The family will greet friends prior to the service beginning at 4:30 P.M. in the May and Smith Funeral Home. They will also be at the home of Stephen and Kati Everett at 599 Plantation Drive before and after the funeral services to visit with friends. A private burial service will be held in the Brownwood Cemetery of Sandersville.
Betty was born in Atkinson County, Georgia on September 4, 1931, the daughter of the late James Rufus Banks and the late Mollie Moody Banks. She would move to Glennville and graduated from the Tattnall County High School in 1948. Mrs. Kicklighter married Dwight Kicklighter and in 1955 and relocate to Washington County to make their home in Warthen. Betty was a member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Warthen. She was a former employee of the George D. Warthen Bank, retiring after 26 years of service. In her retirement, Mrs. Kicklighter was a volunteer with the Washington County Genealogy Center and the Brown House Museum. Betty was a member of the Warthen Community Club since 1957 and served on many committees through the years. Mrs. Kicklighter’s love of history and community is what inspired her to compile historical documents of the Warthen community into a book, “Warthen Looks Back,” that was published in 2002. Betty’s desire to preserve the past led her to research and publish books on the genealogy of local banks and the Kicklighter families. Her dedication to the completion of these books was a labor of love to her family and future generations. Betty’s favorite Bible verse was Lamentations 3:22-23, “Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Mrs. Kicklighter is predeceased in death by her husband, E. Dwight Kicklighter; her son, Stephen “BoBo” Kicklighter; sisters, Regina Thornton and Maxine England; brothers, Junior Banks, W.B. Banks, Clinton Banks, and Pat Banks.
Survivors include her children, Glenn Kicklighter, Connie Langford, Karen K. Renfroe, and Pam K. Helton and her husband Stacer; grandchildren, Christi K (Glenn) Johnson, Chad Kicklighter, Jerry Everett, Stephen (Kati) Everett, and Luke (Susan) Renfroe; great-grandchildren, Julianna Johnson, Shelby Johnson, Cathryn Kicklighter, Camryn Kicklighter, Cole Everett, Rue Everett, Ward Everett, Tinley Anne Renfroe, and Madison Grace Renfroe; and brother, Gary Banks and his wife Jane.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Bethlehem Baptist Church, 95 Bethlehem Church Road, Warthen, Georgia 31094 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolence may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.