Betty Sue James

Betty Sue Barron James, 73, of Lakeland, died at 3:55 PM, August 5, 2017 at Palm Terrace of Lakeland. She was born December 30, 1943 in Olympia, Washington to Mary Etoile Elliot and Jasper Barron. Surviving are her sister Jeannie Barron Walker of Mountain Home, Arkansas; daughter Olivia who lives in Washington, DC with partner Judy, and daughter Shannon who lives in Columbia, SC with husband Mike Fields and their two children Elyse and Jacob; Betty's father and mother preceded her in death. Betty was a long time resident of Lakeland where she lived after graduating from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. She married Glenn James and moved to Lakeland where they attended First United Methodist Church. Betty dreamed of being an opera singer at the Met. She acted in many local theater productions at Mark One and Theatre Winter Haven. Betty was an English teacher at Kathleen Senior High School and George Jenkins Senior High School. In her later working years she enjoyed most of all working for the Lakeland Public Library. She loved to educate others, loved to advocate for people of color, and enjoyed acting, directing plays, and raising a family. A special thank you from the family to Pastor Sue Garcia and to all of the nurses at Palm Terrace who lovingly cared for Betty in recent years.