Betty (Ragland) Boyte

Betty Sue Ragland Boyte was born March 9, 1939, in Springfield, and she went home to heaven to reunite with her daughter, Janet Lynn Boyte, and her parents, Freeman Ragland and Elizabeth Ragland, on Sunday March 31, 2024.

Betty’s younger years were spent raising her younger sisters, thus preparing her for the journey ahead as she raised a special daughter. She was a graduate of Springfield High School Class of 1958. During High School, Betty met her future husband Jerry Boyte, as he sang in the Glee Club. Together as a duet, they blessed many folks with their angel like voices. They sang in churches, revivals, nursing homes, and hundreds of funerals before the use of recorded music. Betty and Jerry shard a beautiful married life of 66 years, raising a family, helping others, and loving and supporting each other. They were a wonderful couple who shared a deep and abiding love and affection that never failed in wanting for each other’s happiness.

Betty was a past member of North Springfield Baptist Church, Ashland City Baptist Church, Gracy Avenue Baptist Church, and Eastland Heights Baptist Church. Each membership was where her husband served as the Minister of Music. Most recently, she was a member of Springfield Baptist Church and a member of Dr. Tom Onstott Sunday School class. Throughout the years, she served each church by helping with the flowers and decorations in the sanctuaries. Betty worked part time for over 20 years with State Industries in Ashland City, and she also worked at Sears in downtown Nashville for over 9 years. She was a wonderful caregiver to her special needs daughter Janet, a loving wife and mother, a travel companion with friends to the beach, and was always strong willed. Betty had a remarkable memory for birthdays and other important life events, a gift that stayed with her even to the end of her life.

As a grandmother and great grandmother, Betty was simply the best, and she loved them all unconditionally. Betty never met a stranger. Her spirit was gentle and giving, always devoting her time on earth to sharing her love with others. Her greatest joy was being a wife to her husband, Jerry Boyte, a mother to her three children: Donna Boyte (Milton) Francis, Jerry “Jay” (Tammie) Boyte, Jr., and Janet Lynn Boyte, who preceded her in death. She extended that same love to her four grandchildren: Tiffany (Nathan) Aimes, Ellen (Marty) Ross, Elizabeth (Jordan) Miller, and Clay Francis, and to her great grandchildren: Charlotte Aimes, Henry Aimes, Parker Miller, and Josiah Ross. Betty is also survived by her sisters: Barbara Browning and Sandra Chilton.

A Celebration of Life service will be conducted on Friday April 5, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. in the Oakhurst Chapel of the Robertson County Funeral Home with Dr. Tom Onstott and Tim Harris officiating. Interment will follow in the Palestine Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest next to her daughter Janet. Pallbearers will be Clay Francis, Jordan Miller, Nate Aimes, Marty Ross, Scott Boyte, and Michael Boyte. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Dr. Tom Onstott Sunday School class at Springfield Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Friday at the funeral home.

Betty’s family would like to extend their love and appreciation to Jim Campbell for driving them to various appointments in their later years and to the Dr. Tom Onstott Sunday School class for their love and support. If so desired, memorial contributions may be made, in Betty’s memory, to Springfield Baptist Church for the Special Needs Class. All donations should be made payable to Springfield Baptist Church and may be sent c/o Robertson County Funeral Home 2201 Memorial Blvd. Springfield, TN 37172.

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