Betty M. Timmerman

North Augusta, SC—Funeral Services for Mrs. Betty Murph Timmerman of Fairfield Avenue, North Augusta, SC, who entered into rest November 4, 2016, will be conducted Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Grace United Methodist Church. Reverend James D. Dennis, Jr., officiating. Interment in Pineview Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Timmerman was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, she was the daughter of the late William Daniel and Jessie Broom Murph, a member of Bethel United Methodist Church and a graduate of Converse College with Honors in History. Following her marriage to the late Harold Lee Timmerman, she lived in Columbia for eight years, during which she was a very active member of Shandon United Methodist Church, a member of the Bay Blossom Garden Club and participant in many civic activities. After her family moved to North Augusta in December 1955, Betty became active in the Greenwood District of The South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. She served the Women’s Society of Christian Service of the District as Secretary of Christian Social Relations, Secretary of Promotion/Membership Cultivation and President, later holding the appointive office of District Historian for 13 years. She served as secretary of the committee restoring the Cokesbury Conference School near Greenwood. In 1965 she was appointed by the District Superintendent to be Associate in Children’s Work for Elementary I and II Sunday School classes. The following year she became Director of Children’s Work in Greenwood District, later called Coordinator of Children’s Ministries. She served for several years on the Greenwood District Program Council. She held a number of offices in Church Women United in South Carolina, including the presidency, and in 1980 was named Valiant Woman of the Year by that organization. In Daring Hearts and Spirits Free: South Carolina Women in the United Methodist Tradition, Betty Murph Timmerman wrote the chapter “Daughters of Zeal”, which covers the work of women in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South from 1878 through 1939. She has served on several Boards and Commissions of The South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, including the Commission on Christian Social Concerns, of which she was treasurer and the Commission on Archives and History of which she was Secretary for four years, then Vice Chairman. She also was a member of the Conference Board of Education’s Children’s Work Council. For four years she was President of the South Carolina Conference Historical Society of which she had previously been Secretary-Treasurer/Membership Chairman and Vice President. She was also a member of the Southeastern Jurisdiction (United Methodist Church) Historical Society and a former member of the South Carolina Archives and History Foundation. In 2010, she was the recipient of the Herbert Hucks Award for outstanding service in historical preservation and interpretation of the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. At Grace United Methodist Church of North Augusta, Betty served on many boards, committees and commissions. She taught first graders in the Sunday School for a number of years. She was a member of the Women’s Society of Christian Service and United Methodist Women and had served as President, Secretary of Christian Social Relations, Publicity Chairman and Historian. She was a member of the Nancy Smith Circle of the UMW and The Grace METTS, and held a certificate as a Qualified Church Pianist. Betty worked in the Church Library from its organization in 1962 and in 1990 the library was named in her honor, “The Betty Timmerman Library”. She also served as the Church Historian. Additionally, she was active in United Church Women, holding several offices including the presidency several times and was Chairman of the group’s Interdenominational Discussion Group for five years. Mrs. Timmerman was a member and president of the former Lynnhurst Garden Club and served on the North Augusta Council of Garden Clubs as Chaplain and Publicity Chairman. For sixteen years, she was chairman of the North Augusta Trick of Treat for UNICEF Drive, also serving on the South Carolina Committee. Betty was a member and officer of the Greater North Augusta Council on Human Relations, later known as Triangle Compassion Unlimited. She had volunteered at the beginning of the Head Start Program at Paine College and Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church. Additionally, Betty served on the North Augusta Community Center Board, the Budget Committee of the United Fund of Augusta-North Augusta, the Publicity Committee of Nancy Carson Library Expansion Drives and Publishing Committee, History of North Augusta, South Carolina, Volume II, the Heritage Council of North Augusta and the Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta. For sixteen years she was a staff member at the Augusta Regional Library and was a member of the Central Savannah River Area Library Association, Friends of the Augusta Library, Georgia Library Association, the Southeastern Library Association and represented the library on the Greater Augusta Arts Council. She and her husband were former members and officers of the Richmond Reelers Square Dance Club. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Tricia Timmerman, North Augusta; a daughter and son-in-law, Susan and The Reverend Robert L. Gosey, North Augusta; five grandchildren, Genie (Chris) Champlain, Brooksville, FL, Nicholas Gosey, Columbia, SC, Rebecca (Michael) Springstead, Catherine Gosey and Christina Gosey all of North Augusta; five great grandchildren, Jamie Champlain, Samie Champlain, Jennifer Springstead, Amelia Springstead and Caleb Springstead; a sister, Ann Murph Barry, Columbia, SC; two nieces, Frazier Barry Swindler, Irmo, SC, and Beth Barry, Columbia, SC. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Nancy Smith Circle. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday evening from 5 until 7. Memorials may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 639 Georgia Avenue, North Augusta, SC 29841. Posey Funeral Directors of North Augusta in charge of arrangements (803-278-1181). Visit the registry at www.poseycares.com

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Betty M. Timmerman

November 4, 2016