Elizabeth ‘Bettie’ Manning Ott

Published 11:25 am Tuesday, September 9, 2014

MACON — Elizabeth ‘Bettie’ Manning Ott, 89, of Macon, Ga., formerly of Moultrie, died Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, in Macon, following an extended illness.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m., on Sunday, Sept. 14, at Vineville United Methodist Church in Macon, Ga. The family will receive friends beginning at 2 p.m., at Vineville UMC on that day.

She was born Sept. 14, 1924, in Moultrie, the only daughter of Nora Gibbs Manning and Ambrose Haulsey Manning. She graduated from Agnes Scott College with a double major in math and physics. She and her future husband, William A. Ott, fell in love when they both worked for their hometown newspaper, The Moultrie Observer. They married on June 9, 1951, and lived in several areas of the United States as they raised their family and followed his promotions at Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc.

She dedicated herself to raising her large family and cherished her children and their families, her family remarked of her.

She often said in her later years, family recalled, “My children have been my greatest blessing!”

She passed on her deep love of music to her children and grandchildren. She was a gifted vocalist in her church choirs, the Chautauqua Opera Chorus, Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, Akron Symphony Chorus, and San Francisco Symphony Chorus, her family said. As a member of numerous boards and philanthropic organizations during her life, her family remarked, she had a positive impact on each community. She served on the Salvation Army advisory board, Hope Rehabilitation board, Hope finance committee, San Jose Symphony board, Opera San Jose board, San Jose Symphony auxiliary board, Los Gatos UMC finance committee, D.A.R., Ohio Ballet women’s committee, Florida Philharmonic Guild, Museum of Arts & Sciences in Macon, and United Way Agency. She returned to live in Macon, in 2001 to be closer to family and friends. She enjoyed traveling, genealogy, reading, journaling, puzzles, needlework, and walking, her family remembered.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 38 years, William Anthony Ott Sr.; her son, Robert Haulsey Ott; and her granddaughter, Mary Frances Ott.

Survivors include children, William Anthony Ott Jr. and former spouse, Mary Kay Bryan, of Macon, Ga., J. Warren Ott and wife Claire of Atlanta, John Manning Ott and wife Lisa of Monroe, Ga., Joseph Henderson Ott and former spouse, Wendy Keith-Ott of Decatur, Ga., Elizabeth “Bettie” Ott Negley and husband Cary of Savannah, Ga., and Carolyn Ott Curran and husband Bill of Penfield, N.Y.; 17 grandchildren and three of their spouses; four great-grandchildren; the staff of Carlyle Place’s Cambridge Court and Harrington House; and Sheila Hamm and Charry Walker.

The family requests that remembrances be made to a charity of choice.

Register online at www.hartsmort.com and www.moultrieobserver.com to leave condolences to the family.

Hart’s Mortuary and Crematory, in Macon, has been entrusted with arrangements.