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NATCHEZ — A long-time, well-known educator in Natchez passed away in late November at the age of 81.

Bettie Minor was an educator for nearly 40 years in Natchez beginning in 1964, according to her daughter, Vermelle Minor.

A native of Hazelhurst, Bettie Minor’s influence to become a teacher began during her childhood teaching her younger siblings, Vermelle said.

“She was the third of 10 children and the oldest daughter,” she said.

Compounding health issues made Bettie Minor move to Dallas, Texas closer to her daughter, but since she started her career as a Social Studies teacher at Sadie V. Thompson High School in 1964, Natchez has been her home, Vermelle said.

She later taught at North Natchez, South Natchez, and Natchez High School.

“After she retired in 2003, she still worked at the Natchez Children’s Home as a tutor,” Vermelle said. “She cared deeply and wanted to give back to the community.”

Bettie Minor was an active member of her community, contributing to various organizations and causes. She worked with the NAACP and the Democratic Women of Adams County, served as Secretary for the Adams County Democratic Committee, and was a past president of the Adams County Teachers’ Association.

As a member of the Emma Morris Chapter No. 12 Order of the Eastern Star for 54 years, Bettie Minor was instrumental as an instructor, mentor and “connoisseur in helping others move forward,” Minor said. As a mom, Vermelle described Bettie Minor as stern but loving.

“She saw the best in you and the potential of what you could do and pushed you to be your best,” she said. “Now that (my siblings and I) are older, it’s an innate part of our personalities to communicate well with others, get things done and be persistent and consistent in everything we do because of her.”

Bettie and her husband Robert Lee Minor Sr. had two children, Vermelle and Marco. Bettie Minor also embraced the role of mother to Maurice Minor, the late Minnie Minor, Robert Lee Minor Jr., and Carl Elijah Minor.

Before the years of computer-generated tests, Vermelle recalled her mother spending hours at home writing out her tests by hand and grading them afterward.

Her other hobbies were gardening, fishing and watching football and basketball games. She always pulled for the underdog, said her son Marco.

“She did like Brady and Mahomes until they started winning all of the time. She always said, ‘You’ve had your turn, now let the next person get the ball and move on.’ That’s the teacher in her,” he said.

Bettie Minor’s first-time bass fishing, “She caught one that got off the hook. Moments later, if she didn’t pull that same fish out of the water,” Vermelle said. “Ever since she always loved fishing with dad. He would say he didn’t get to fish. He would just sit there and bate the poles over and over and she would keep pulling the fish in.”

Marco added their mother loved helping people and wasn’t afraid to admit when she was wrong or when one of her children was wrong.

“She believed in doing the right thing by people,” he said. “She also never met a stranger. If she saw someone in the room, she didn’t know she would say, ‘Come on over and talk to me. I don’t think I’ve met you yet.’ She would bring you in.”

Besides dedicating her life to being an educator, mentor, mother and serving her community, Bettie Minor also was a devout Christian woman and active member of Beulah Missionary Baptist Church since 1970, where she served as Secretary, Chaplain of the Senior Choir, and President of the Beulah Clubs. She also served as Recording Secretary for the Women’s Auxiliary of Adams County and on the Memorial and Praise Committee. Bettie sang with the Gospel Choir, the Voices of Hope, where she was the Financial Secretary for the Voices of Hope, and participated annually in the Fall Pilgrimage.

Vermelle said Bettie Minor is sorely missed.

“You don’t find many like her. It’s hard to lose a gem like she was. Her light shines bright, even when she is gone,” she said.