Betty Singletary

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Betty Dunn Singletary, 86, of Blakely, Ga., died Mon., Jan. 25, 2010. She was born April 2, 1923, in Andalusia, the daughter of the late James Gee Dunn and Myrtle Godbold Dunn and stepdaughter of the late Grace Norton Dunn.
Mrs. Singletary graduated from Andalusia High School and received a bachelor of Music degree from the University of Montevallo. In 1946, she married A. J. Singletary and moved to Blakely, Ga.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Singletary pursued her love of music in many ways. During World War II, she was the lead singer for jazz bands performing for the troops at military bases throughout Alabama. After moving to Blakely, she frequently sang at church and civic functions. Mrs. Singletary served for many years as choir director of First United Methodist Church in Blakely, and for more than 60 years, directed the Christmas program presented by Evelyn Whitchard’s Men’s Bible Class at First United Methodist Church in Blakely. She also directed the Glee Club at Southwest Georgia Academy.
Mrs. Singletary was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Andrew Jackson Singletary; and her brother, Dr. James Gee Dunn Jr.
She was survived by four children: Andrew Jackson Singletary Jr., of Atlanta, Ga.; James Stephen Singletary and his wife, Liza Lisenby Singletary, of Blakely, Ga.; Jean Singletary Krapfel and her husband, Richard William Krapfel, of Hickory, N.C., and Janet Singletary Thomas and her husband, Brent Mason Thomas, of Richmond, Va.; four grandchildren, Carol Singletary Howell and her husband, Jay Howell, of Leesburg, Ga.; Elizabeth Singletary Morgan of Blakely, Ga., Sarah Caroline Krapfel of Charleston, S.C., and James Richard Krapfel of Charlotte, N.C.; and two great-grandchildren, Grace Kathryn Morgan and Andrew James “AJ” Howell.
She is also survived by her twin brother, Robert Dunn of Seattle, Wash.; by five nieces, as well as brother-in-law, Raymond Cook Singletary, of Blakely, Ga., and sister-in-law, Emily Singletary Garner of Milledgeville, Ga.
Funeral services will be Thurs., Jan. 28, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Blakely, Ga., with interment to follow at the Blakely Cemetery. The Rev. Rick Turner and Dr. Rick Lanford will officiate. Serving as active pallbearers will be Richard Krapfel, James Krapfel, Brent Thomas, Jay Howell, Richard Grist, Jim Whitehead, Franklin Arnold and Charles Robertson. Honorary pallbearers will be the Methodist Men’s Bible Class and the Chancel Choir.
The family will receive friends at Manry-Jordan-Hodges Funeral Home in Blakely, Ga., tonight from 6 to 8.
Memorials may be sent either to the Blakely First United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 265, Blakely, Georgia 39823 or The Methodist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 2525, Macon, Georgia 31203.
Those unable to attend the services can visit manryjordanhodges.com to sign the guest registry and send condolences.