Bettye Ann Reynolds

The family of Deacon Bettye Reynolds is very sad to report that their beloved mother and matriarch passed away, following a brief illness, from respiratory failure on Friday, September 11, 2026, at Sutter Hospital in Sacramento.

Bettye Ann Williamson Reynolds, 91, was born on January 8, 1935. She lived a rewarding and meaningful life of motherhood and service a few years short of a century. She was born during the Great Depression to Gertrude Adelia Williamson née Patterson and Wayne Buford Williamson in Water Valley, Mississippi.

Bettye earned her bachelor’s degree in English at Mississippi State College for Women (MSCW). It was during that time that Bettye met the love of her life, Kenneth Eugene "Gene" Reynolds, from Santa Cruz, California, at a dance at MSCW. Gene, an Air Force soldier, was stationed nearby. When he saw Bettye at a dance, he told his friend, “See that girl in the red dress? I’m going to marry her.”

Bettye and Gene were wed in 1955 in Water Valley, Mississippi, and were subsequently stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. It was there that daughter Patricia was born. They were stationed at several places during their Air Force career, including Palm Beach, Florida, Salina and Wichita, Kansas. During this time, daughters Janis and Tamara were born. The family moved to Fresno, California around 1964, and bought a red, ’64 Volkswagen Beetle, followed by a white, 1966 Mustang. Finally, they settled in Sacramento, California and bought a home in Carmichael. In 1976, following Gene’s untimely passing, Bettye carried on with his typesetting business for some years as the girls made their way through school.

Later, Bettye was called to serve the Lord and was ordained as a Deacon. She was sent by the Episcopal Bishop to serve at St. John's Episcopal Church, in Roseville, California. She served as a Christian Counsellor and was able to support her parish in this way.

For over 20 years Bettye fulfilled her personal calling in Native American Ministries and later as a hospital Chaplain at Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento, and Sutter and Kaiser Hospitals in Roseville. Bettye enjoyed a long and fulfilling life of service to others and retired under protest at the respectable age of 80.

Deacon Bettye is preceded in death by beloved husband Gene, and daughter Janis, and is survived by her daughter, Patricia Reynolds Sorbye and husband Lief Sorbye, and daughter Tamara Bower and husband Larry Bower, and by her grandchildren and great grandchildren Ben and Monika and Matthew Bower and their families. In addition, she is survived by nephews and nieces Mike and Lorri Williamson, Corey Williamson and Joeli Link, Steve Williamson, Colby and Nathan Williamson, Carolyn Williamson Dodson and Jason Dodson and Olivia Harris, Patrick and Angelina Williamson and family. Additionally, she is survived by her precious helpers, Jamie, Rich, Rhonda and Angel, and the most wonderful group of church members, neighbors and friends, all of whom she loved dearly.

Bettye’s Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, November 14 at 11:00 am, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Roseville, California. Reception to follow. Please RSVP to:

St. John’s Episcopal Church, 2351 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Roseville, CA 95747, (916) 786-6911, [email protected]

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made by check payable to St. John’s Church, with a memo for distribution to the ‘Archdeacon Fund for Education,’ to assist those going through the education and discernment process, seeking ordination. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 2351 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Roseville, CA 95747