Betty Ann McKnight

A Journey Begins…“To everything there is a reason, and a time to every purpose under the heavens; a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.”A Time to be Born…Betty Ann McKnight was born on February 2, 1954 in Sumter, South Carolina to Mr. Leroy McKnight and Pearl McKnight.A Time to Grow…She was reared with the support of a loving, Christian family. At the age of two, the family moved to Baltimore, Maryland where she attended public schools, and graduated from Eastern High school in 1972. Betty was employed at Field’s Pharmacy for a number of years, and made a career change to Becton Dickinson & Company where she was employed for eighteen years. Betty’s number one interest was cooking and watching the food network show. She enjoyed reading, shopping, going skiing and drinking hit chocolate.A Time to Love…Betty was the proud mother of three children, Sherrell, Shawn (who preceded her in death) Michael and son-in-law, Purvis Purcell (who preceded her in death). Betty enjoyed and cherished her two grandchildren, Kiara and Damonte’. She was devoted to her entire family. Betty faithfully supported and cared for her parents. She helped nurture her nieces and nephews. Betty was the family organizer. She planned all family trips, weddings and holiday gatherings. Betty had a compassionate heart for others. Her radiant smile always made others feel welcomed into the family.A Time to Worship…Betty was a true believer of God and at an early age she was christened and became a member of John Wesley United Methodist Church, where she served on the Elizabeth Allen Nalle Memorial Choir and attended Sunday School. She was a member of the Senior Usher Board and the Greeters Ministry. Betty’s favorite scripture quoted from the book of Psalms 37: “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.” Betty enjoyed our family bible studies, where she often gave her testimonies. She enjoyed having her nephew Christopher read scripture lessons and enjoyed listening to his sermons during our family bible studies. Betty often talked about God’s angels watching over her all night and all day.A Time to Die…God saw the road was getting rough and the hills were hard to climb. She asked the Lord to take her hand and lead her to the promised land. Betty peacefully and joyfully entered into eternal glory and rested at the appointed time with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 17, 2004, at the home with her family surrounding her.A Time to Mourn…She leaves to rejoice in her life, two loving and devoted children; Mrs. Sherrell C. McKnight-Purcell and Mr. Michael McKnight; loving father and mother, Leroy and Pearl McKnight; two grandchildren, Kiara Purcell and Damonte McKnight; three sisters, Shirley M. McKnight, Barbara McKnight-Allen and Maudline Walker; two brothers, Leonard McKnight and Lee Ernest McKnight Sr.; three brothers-in-law; James H. McKnight, III, Robert Lee Allen, Sr. and Sheldon R. Walker Sr.; two sisters-in-law, Barbara A. McKnight and A. Maxine McKnight; eleven aunts, Ethel Mae, Mary Henry, Beatrice Rice, Elizabeth Gathering, Sally Hardy, Alice McKnight, Robell White, Annie M. White, Ruth McKnight, Nellie McKnight and Ruth McKnight; four uncles, Preston White, Ellis White, Sr., Willie J. McKnight and Thomas McKnight, nieces and nephews; a devoted god-mother, Willie E. Pearson; adopted grandmother, Goldie C. Morsell; father in ministry; Steward Hugo Holley; caring and supportive friends, Mary Shaw and Carolyn Wright; four god sisters, Sandra M. Jones, Sheryl Morsell, Sherrell Greene and Centura J. Mullin; church mother, Corrine Saunders; church class leader, Ella M. Lawson; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Betty Ann McKnight

February 2, 1954 - June 17, 2004