Betty Ann Burnette Martin

Betty Ann Burnette Martin, 85, most recently of Canton, GA, passed peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her family on the evening of July 3rd, 2024. A graveside service celebrating Betty’s remarkable life will be held Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at The Georgia National Cemetery. The family will receive friends the evening prior, on Monday, July 15, 2024, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Darby Funeral Home, Canton, GA. Mr. Buddy Hulsey will honor the family by officiating. Betty was born the first child of CC ‘Rounder’ Burnett and Mary Morris Burnett on January 18, 1939, following what must have been quite a bumpy ride down unpaved Roswell Road from Alpharetta, GA to Atlanta’s Grady Hospital. She grew up in Alpharetta, graduating from Milton High School in 1957. On October 19th of that same year, Betty married her sweetheart, Dwane, at Union Hill Baptist Church where they had met when she was 13. Betty served Jesus wherever she worshiped. Vacation Bible School Superintendent, Young Singles’ Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Class Secretary and Children’s Choir Secretary were just a few of the areas where Betty used her gift of administration to honor her Lord. Having completed business college immediately following high school, Betty worked for several companies in Atlanta and eventually retired as a financial secretary from Northside Realty Associates in Sandy Springs. Betty and Dwane raised their children in Sandy Springs where she drove endless carpools, cheered countless sporting events, applauded hundreds of band, orchestra and choir concerts, chaperoned numerous field trips and served in leadership roles including Director of Sandy Springs Youth Sports Little League, and Co-Chair of the North Springs Band Boosters Association. Betty enjoyed traveling with family and friends. Unafraid of a challenge, in 1977 Betty—by herself---took Todd and Kimberly to France, Scotland and England where they luckily caught a quick glimpse of Queen Elizabeth II as her motorcade zoomed past. In celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary, Betty and Dwane gifted their children and grandchildren with a family Alaskan cruise—such a remarkable adventure! After the grandchildren came along, Betty resumed her faithful attendance record, traveling to and supporting all things grandchild related. Grandparents Days, graduations, soccer, baseball, softball, football, lacrosse, and rugby games, reading bowls, art exhibitions, honors and award ceremonies, concerts and any sort of celebration guaranteed ‘BB’ would be in the audience. Even after moving to Canton in 2007, the road to the grandchildren stayed busy with Betty unflappably stationed behind the steering wheel. Betty spent many pleasant days in Hiawassee, GA where she and Dwane owned a mountain home. Betty relished her role as the young ‘whippersnapper’ in the mountain bridge club. The grandchildren recall picking blueberries and going to the Georgia Mountain Fair with ‘BB’. Lots of splashing fun was had playing on the lake. In her last few years, Betty fought valiantly against an unwelcome assailant. Lashing out at her Alzheimer’s-related dementia, snatching small victories from its grip, she’d gaze with eyes that lit up when she saw her loved ones, and speak names in conversation that were feared forgotten. Treasured moments for all of them. Betty’s absence from her earthly body will be deeply felt by her loved ones; yet they celebrate her healing, and her rejoicing in heaven with her Savior, Jesus. Betty is survived by her husband of 66+ years, Dwane A. Martin, of Canton, and their children Kimberly Martin Coleburn (Mark) of Marietta, and Todd A. Martin (Annsley) of Woodstock. Five beautiful and brilliant grandchildren who all, of course, took after their ‘BB’; Will (fiancée, Audre), Graham, Hayden, Ragan and Aubrey. Preceded in death by her parents, CC and Mary Morris Burnett, as well as a dear nephew, Steven Keith Collett, Betty also leaves behind three siblings: Martha Jean Collett of Ball Ground, Pearl Bivins of Cumming, and Jerry Burnette of Cumming. Six much-loved nieces and nephews remain: Burt, Mitchell, Connie, Macy, Tim, and Leshia. Betty’s family would like to especially thank the kind-hearted professional staff at Benton House, Woodstock, who so lovingly cared for Betty and her family over the past 3 ½ years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Betty’s memory to either the Alzheimer’s Association of Georgia, or First Baptist Church of Woodstock. The caring staff of Darby Funeral Home is honored to serve the Martin family.

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Betty Ann Burnette Martin

January 18, 1939 - July 3, 2024