Bettye Sill Parks

A Funeral Liturgy for Mrs. Bettye Sill Parks will be celebrated on Friday, April 16, 2010 at 11am at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church. Interment will follow in Aiken Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends tonight Thursday from 6-8pm at George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Ave, SW, Aiken. Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.

Mrs. Parks, 85, of Aiken, died Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at her residence.

Born on December 16, 1924, in Atlanta, GA, she was the daughter of the late Hodges R. and Ruth Veleta Sill. She graduated from Girl's High in Atlanta, GA in 1943. Bettye married Charles "Buddy'' H. Parks when she was 19 years of age on February 26, 1944. Shortly after Buddy returned from World War II they moved to Aiken in 1951 and started a business and they raised their family. She was instrumental in the success of her husband's business Aiken Auto Parts. Bettye was an avid gardener, bridge player and loved spending time doing needlework, especially crocheting, loved nature and pulling for Georgia Tech her husbands Alma Mata. Bettye was a communicant of St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, a lifetime member of the Country Gardeners Country Club and served more than twenty five years with the Hospital Auxiliary of Aiken County. Both her surviving children graduated college and have nursing degrees.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Charles H. Parks and a son, Charles "Chuck" H. Parks, Jr. who died in the Vietnam War August 21, 1969. She is survived by her daughters, Veleta Morris Rudnick, Aiken; Theresa Don Courtney, Irmo, SC; grandchildren, Kathleen Craven, Rebekah John Flanagan, Sarah Anthony Williams, Charles Rudnick, Laura Jean Rudnick, great grandchildren, Michael Craven, Ashley Craven, Jack Flanagan, Rylee Flanagan, aunt, Madona Holley, and cousin, Veleta B. Holley.

Special thanks to her caretakers who she loved dearly, Danielle Bush, Demming Butler, Geneva Davis, Bernice Robinson, and Crystal Simmons.