(1936 – 2018)
Ms. Betty H. Wilson served as the County Extension Coordinator with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System in Russell County for forty-three years. She received her B.S. degree in Vocational Home Economics from Alabama College (the University of Montevallo), and her Masters of Education from Auburn University.
She worked for the Alabama Gas Corporation both in the Montgomery and Opelika District. She taught Vocational Home Economics at Valley High School in Fairfax AL.
Wilson proudly served and held many leadership positions with professional associations. She served as a public relations chair of the Alabama Association of Home Economics. She served as secretary and parliamentarian of the Alabama Home Economics Association. She was an active member of Epsilon Sigma Phi, Kappa Delta Pi, and the University of Montevallo Alumni Association.
Although her expertise was in home economics, Wilson demonstrated the ability to lead, organize and motive her own staff and volunteer leaders to make changes that improved the economic livelihood and quality of life for many Russell citizens. The Russell County Extension Council won numerous awards with significant results and achievements.
She used many types of program approaches – leader training, workshops, mini-courses, newsletters, and media. Over fifty new audiences were reached including employed men and women, senior citizens, daycare providers, and community leaders.
Wilson supervised the training of eight Dietetic Intern students, one intern in Family Life and one intern in Family Resource Management. She provided the principal leadership in organizing the Russell County Health Council in 1982. The Council was recognized as one of the five outstanding health councils in Alabama. There were 560 leaders trained to identify county needs.
Wilson worked with the Rural Community Resource Development Committee providing training for 585 community leaders and completing projects that resulted in a Governor’s Award and three certificates of recognition and achievement.
Ms. Betty H. Wilson was a true professional continuously striving to transcend previous levels of performance in the pursuit of excellence. Her record of recruiting, motivating, and inspiring others to become involved in programs benefitting the people of Russell County continues today.
She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Brindlea Wilson Griffin, and her husband Rev. Donald Griffin, two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, as well as numerous other loving family members, church family, and many caring friends.
The Alpha Pi Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi honors and remembers Ms. Betty H. Wilson by placing her name on the dedicatory plaque of the Memorial Chapel.
Chapel Plaque Inscription Number: 628
