Betty Banks Kicklighter

Mrs. Betty Banks Kicklighter, age 90, passed peacefully on February 25,2022, at Washington County Memorial Hospital. Rev. Tim Powell will officiate a funeral service Sunday, February 27 at 5:00 P.M. at May and Smith Funeral Home Chapel. The family will greet friends prior to the service at 4:30 P.M. at May and Smith Funeral Home. The family will be at the home of Stephen and Kati Everett at 599 Plantation Drive before and after services to visit with friends. The family will have a private burial service at Brownwood Cemetery in Sandersville.

Mrs. Kicklighter was born in Atkinson County Georgia September 4, 1931, the daughter of the late James Rufus Banks and the late Mollie Moody Banks. Mrs. Kicklighter later moved to Glennville, Georgia, where she graduated from Tattnall County High School in 1948. After graduation she married Dwight Kicklighter and in 1955, they moved to Washington County and made their home in Warthen, Georgia. She was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Warthen, GA. Mrs. Kicklighter was a former employee of the George D. Warthen bank retiring after 26 years of service. After retirement Mrs. Kicklighter was a volunteer with the Washington County Genealogy Center as well as the Brown House Museum. She was active in her community and had been a member of the Warthen Community Club since 1957 service on many committees through the years. Her love of history and community is what inspired Mrs. Kicklighter to compile historical documents of the Warthen community into a book, “Warthen Looks Back” published in 2002. Mrs. Kicklighter’s desire to preserve the past lead her to research and publish books on the genealogy of the Banks and Kicklighter families. Her dedication to the completion of these two books was a labor of love for her family and future generations.

Mrs. Kicklighter is predeceased in death by her husband E. Dwight Kicklighter and her son Stephen “BoBo” Kicklighter; sisters, Regina Thornton, and Maxine England; brothers, Jr. Banks, W.B. Banks, Clinton Banks, and Pat Banks.

Survivors are her children; Glenn Kicklighter, Connie Langford, Karen K. Renfroe and Pam K. Helton and her husband Stacer all of Sandersville; grandchildren, Christi K (Glenn) Johnson, Chad Kicklighter, Jerry Everett, Stephen (Kati) Everett, and Luke (Susan) Renfroe; great-grandchildren, Julianna Johnson, Shelby Johnson, Cathryn Kicklighter, Camryn Kicklighter, Cole Everett, Rue Everett, Ward Everett, Tinley Anne Renfroe, and Madison Grace Renfroe; Brother, Gary Banks and his wife Jane of Athens, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers the family suggest donations be made to the Bethlehem Baptist Church, 95 Bethlehem Church Road, Warthen, GA 31094 or to a charity of your choice.

Mrs. Kicklighter’s favorite Bible verse was Lamentations 3:22-23; Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements. To send an online condolence visit www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com