Betty Sue (Kelly) Craig

BETTY SUE “DEDAH” CRAIG                                                                                                                      

Betty Sue Kelly (affectionately known as “Dedah”), was born February 10, 1930 in Prescott, Arkansas to the union of Booker T. Kelly and Amber Lee (Slay).  She was the second of three children.  She attended elementary school in Prescott.  After her family moved to Kansas City, Kansas, Betty attended Sumner High School.  She also attended Penn Valley Community College and the University of Missouri at Kansas City.  Betty married Harold Adrin Craig and had five children.  As a young adult, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.  When her children were young, she hosted a Child Evangelism Good News Bible Club in her home, where her children and neighborhood children were exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ.   Betty was a faithful servant of Jesus Christ.  As a result of the life she lived, all her children decided to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Throughout the year’s other family members, neighborhood children and others also decided to accept Jesus as their Savior.  Betty previously attended St. John A.M.E. Church, and Grace Assembly Of God, where she played an active role during her membership at these Churches.  She was a longtime member of Sheffield Family Life Center (SFLC) where she continued her active involvement.  Some of her activities at SFLC included Sunday School Teacher, Altar Worker and Evangelistic Outreach Ministry Team Member.  She was also employed part-time in the Tape Ministry.  Betty was an outgoing and gregarious person.  She loved to encourage others.  People often stopped by the Tape Room for prayer, or just to talk to her.  She had a sense-of-humor and sometimes affectionately doled out playful nicknames to others.  In 1969, Betty began working at the Jackson County Juvenile Court.  She was a Deputy Juvenile Officer and retired in 1992.  Education was very important to Betty. She was sure to instill the importance of education within her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had a thirst for knowledge.  She loved reading and had a LARGE book collection.  She also enjoyed poetry and listening to various types of Christian music.  Betty loved planting seeds to grow flowers. She also had a vegetable garden for many years.  Betty was passionate about shopping.  She enjoyed buying clothes, shoes and accessorizing every outfit. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Mary Craig-Dean, two grandchildren Demetra Craig (affectionately known as Deni), Michael Craig Jr. (affectionately known as Popo) and her brother John Kelly.  She leaves to cherish her memory one sister Norma Goode of Kansas City, Missouri; four children, Michael (Wanda) Craig of Kansas City, Missouri, Regina (Ben) McIntosh Jr of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Sheila (Ricky) Western of Maricopa, Arizona, Ron (Ruth) Craig of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; one step-son Harold Murrell of Wichita, Kansas; 11 grandchildren: Darryn (Yasmir) Craig of Kansas City, Missouri, Stephanie Craig of Kansas City, Missouri, Tofanya McIntosh-Officer of Jacksonville, Florida, Tumika (Damon) Bonds of Kansas City, Missouri, Tim Western of Kansas City, Kansas, Chesney (DeShawn) Hunter of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Rickah (London) Dillard of Maricopa, Arizona, Jonathan Craig of Kansas City, Missouri, Ben McIntosh III of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Rhonda Craig of Washington D.C., and Rhyan Craig of Independence, Missouri; 26 great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and other cherished relatives and friends.   A Memorial Service will be held 3:00P.M. on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at Sheffield Family Life Center in KCMO.  Visitation 1:00 P.M.  Private Disposition.

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