Betty K Burkes

Betty K Burkes went home to be with our Lord on May 5, 2021 at the Bickford of Bexley nursing home, formerly known as Sunrise, while surrounded by family. Betty was born on June 3, 1927 in Samson, Alabama to the late Dewey Lane and Willie Jordan Lane. After graduating from Samson Colored High School in May of 1945, she obtained an associate degree from Selma University in May of 1947. Betty then went on to achieve her bachelor's degree from Alabama A&M in 1949. After her mother and aunt convinced her to continue her education, Betty left the south and moved to Columbus, Ohio where she earned a master’s degree from the Ohio State University in December of 1953. Betty met Milous H. Keith II after his return home from the Korean War. They married in November of 1954 in her hometown of Samson. The couple moved to Fort Knox, Kentucky where Mr. Keith was stationed as a lieutenant. Betty had two sons to their union, Milous III on May 23rd 1957 and Monroe L Keith on July 9th 1958. After just over a decade together Betty and Milous divorced. A short time later Betty met William E Burkes, Sr., a retired World War II United States Navy veteran. They married on April 11, 1970. In 1983, Betty and William were blessed to adopt Aeriell C Harvey at the tender age of three years old. Betty, being the oldest sibling in a large family while growing up, truly loved children. After college, having degrees in early childhood education, she pursued a lifelong career as an educator. Betty went on to become a teacher and principal in the Columbus City School District in Columbus Ohio, and her career included time at Dana Elementary, Duxberry Elementary, Ohio Avenue Elementary, and Windsor Elementary schools. She completed her beloved career by retiring as a principal from the Columbus City School District in 1985. Betty was also very social and friendly, and was a God-fearing woman, so she was a member of numerous clubs and organizations, as well as a devoted and faithful member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Columbus Ohio. She was a Phi Delta Kappa soror in the Gamma Alpha chapter, an Alpha Kappa Alpha soror, a member of the Los Amigos club, the E. B. Delaney Missionary Society, Sunday School class #9, the Shiloh Fifth Sunday choir, Voices of Shiloh choir, the Business and Professionals Circle, and a proud member of the Shiloh Deaconess Board. Betty also frequently donated time, money, and physical items to numerous local charities and organizations as well. Betty was sadly diagnosed with dementia in 2015, and moved into the Bickford home in 2017, where she lived out her remaining days in care and comfort. She was preceded in death by her parents Dewey Lane and Willie Jordan Lane; beloved husband, William E Burkes, Sr.; siblings, Earl Donn Cady, Peggy C Everage, Alonzo M. Cady, Janice O. Cady, Earnest J Lane, and Marilyn J Walters; granddaughter, Cheyenne R Stewart; and honorary granddaughter, Sharie E McCray. Left to cherish her memory: Betty is survived by her youngest brother, Thaddeus W Lane; sisters, Flora Lane and Mary-Catherine Lane; her three children; Milous H Keith III, Monroe L Keith, and Aeriell C Burkes-Green; stepchildren, William E. Burkes Jr., Janice Guess, Venita (Michael) Burkes-Wesley, and Keith Burkes; grandchildren, Shartel D Keith, and ThaiJuan L Green; as well as a host of other cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and dear friends.