Betty Jean Lee Mize

Betty Jean Lee Mize, at the age of 84, was received into the arms of God Almighty on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 13, 2024, and is presently walking the beautiful, celestial streets of heaven arm-in-arm with her Savior and celebrating her reunion with all who have gone on before.

Her earthly life began on August 29, 1940, in Arkansas when she was born to Mae Lacey Lee. However, due to circumstances beyond her mother’s control, she later came to live with her mother’s sister, Bertha Harmon, and her husband, Elvis Harlow “Billy” Harmon, in Paris, Mississippi where she would live the remainder of her earthly life. Her aunt and uncle eventually became mother and father to her. Consequently, she always said she was blessed by God to have two mothers.

Betty’s surrender to God Almighty as her Savior at Paris Baptist Church in 1952 started her down a path of service that would mold her and make her into the woman of God that she became. At the time of her death, she was the longest living active member of Paris Baptist Church where she served for 72 years. 

After Betty began attending school at Paris where she lived, she discovered a unique love for basketball. Her love of the game became something she carried with her throughout life as she often took great pleasure in reminiscing about all the memories made with, and among, the other girls on the team. In 1959, she graduated from Taylor High School.

On March 9, 1963, Betty married the love of her life, Billie Glen Mize, who also lived in Paris. They made their home in Paris where they lived with their daughter who was born three years after their marriage. Janet and her husband, Lee Pruett, also made their home in Paris where Betty and Janet continued to share a beautiful mother/daughter/best friend relationship throughout their entire lifetime. The two were basically inseparable until the time of Betty’s death.

Over the course of her work history, Betty came to know many people. She made lifetime friends while working at Mott’s and Big Yank in Water Valley as well as through her last job with the University of Mississippi as Textbook Manager at the Ole Miss Bookstore. It was 20+ years ago that she retired from the bookstore to stay at home and care for her husband when his health began to decline. However, she continued to be a Rebel at heart and always enjoyed “tailgating” with her family on Saturdays during football season. The last game she enjoyed watching with her family she was able to see Ole Miss’ big win over the Georgia Bulldogs. What a great last game to enjoy with family!

Betty, being the loving and caring person she was, became a care-giver to many people over the course of her life. She cared for her parents, her in-laws, and for her husband. Even after having to say ‘goodbye’ to all of them, she confided in her daughter that her daily prayer was for God to lead her to anyone that she could help. Hence, when she was not working in her garden, mowing her yard, canning, cooking or doing tasks in and around her home, she would be cooking or gardening for neighbors, checking on family and friends, sitting with the elderly, taking others to and from doctor’s appointments and scheduled haircuts, and helping others grocery shop, clean their homes as well as any other thing she could do to help. 

When she wasn’t helping others, she was faithfully serving through her church. Many days she came along side the other ladies of the church to cook and serve a delicious, hot meal to grieving loved ones who had just buried a family member, friend, or loved one. She looked for, and prayed for, ways to serve others. Her desire was for the love of God to touch others through her. Now that she has transcended to her highest calling, she leaves us the challenge of allowing God to touch others through our lives...to know and be the hands and feet of Christ!

At the time of her death, Betty leaves behind one daughter: Janet (Lee) Pruett of Paris, Mississippi; two sisters: Annie Mae (Larry) White of Adona, Arkansas and Kathie Mariah (Danny) Copes of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia; three brothers: William Elvis “Kooter” (Kay) Harmon of Batesville, Mississippi, James Wayne (Theresa) Fikes of McRae, Arkansas and Stanley Freeman Fikes of Houston, Arkansas as well as a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, other family and friends. 

She was predeceased by her husband: Billie Glen Mize of Paris, Mississippi; her mothers: Mae Richards of Adona, Arkansas and Bertha Harmon of Paris, Mississippi; her father: Elvis Harlow “Billy” Harmon of Paris, Mississippi; one sister: Audrey Faye Joslin of Tula, MS; and one brother: Ernest Harlow “Lester” Harmon of Paris, Mississippi.

Memorials may be sent to Paris Cemetery Fund, c/o Jane Michelletti, 24 CR 479, Paris, MS 38949.

The staff of Seven Oaks Funeral Home is honored to work with the Mize family during this time of grief. We ask that you pray for them in the days ahead.