Betty Johnson Kirby's Obituary
Betty Johnson Kirby, 84, was called to eternal life on Feb. 29, 2024. Betty was born in Gatesville, Tex., on April 20, 1939. She was a graduate of Waco high school. On December 28, 1957 she married Homer Lee (H.L.) Kirby, with whom she built a life in Waco, Tex. until they moved to Memphis, Tenn. in 1986.
Betty was at the center of every family celebration, whether she was rising at 4 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning to get a supersized turkey into the oven, making an array of desserts to ensure that every member of her family had their favorite, or soaking a flock’s worth of chicken in buttermilk for her signature fried chicken. Anyone who ever complimented a dish could expect it to be served at every future visit, and everyone who joined a family gathering could expect to be welcomed as family – even if they were meeting her for the first time. She was incapable of relaxing unless everyone else was taken care of first, and her home was a warm, safe place to be for everyone who crossed the threshold. No one left her table unfed, no child left her house without a hug, and no one left her presence without feeling loved.
She was welcomed into Heaven by her parents, Bennie C. Johnson and Winnie Davis; her siblings Bennie Johnson Jr., Peggy Kirby, and Barbara Johnson; and her beloved H.L. She is survived by her children, John (Kristen) Kirby of Shady Side, Md. and Terri (Dennis) Roberts of Germantown, Tenn; grandchildren Christopher Kirby, Amanda Kirby, Shane Kirby, Ashlee Roberts, Zachary Roberts, and Jackson Kirby; and great-grandson Austin Kirby. She is also survived by three generations of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, and great-great-nieces and -nephews who are too numerous to list, but all of whom adored the woman they all knew as Ninnie Betty. Her presence will be missed, but her memory will be treasured.
Services will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home Saturday March 2, 2024 at 4:00pm with burial to follow at Southwoods Cemetery at a later date. The family invites friends to gather for visitation prior to the service at 3:00pm.. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
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