Betty Brown Duffee, 95, of Marianna died Sunday, April 21, 2024 at her residence. She was born December 25, 1928, to Ausburn and Rosa Lee Brown in Pike County, Alabama. She attended Auburn University where she received her bachelor’s degree. Betty then attended the University of Mississippi where she received her master’s degree. She was an active member of Marianna First United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. Betty taught school in Jackson County for 34 years. All of her students were very special to her, but the first class she taught, Grand Ridge Class of ’63, always held a special place in her heart. Betty continued her service in education by being elected to the Jackson County School Board in 1996, where she served for four terms. In all of her decisions, she always put the children first. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest M Duffee; her parents, Ausburn and Rosa Lee Brown; one brother, Claude Brown; son, Tom Kiser; and grandson, Ernest Duffee, III. Betty is survived by two sons, Ernest M Duffee, Jr. (Claudia), and Alan B. Duffee, of Marianna, FL; daughter, Diane Duffee Kiser of Auburn AL; two brothers, Sammy Brown and John Brown; and two sisters, Mildred Burleson and Sue Edwards; four grandchildren, Thomas Kiser, Daniel Duffee, John Duffee, and Kimberly Kiser. She is also survived by extended family, Jeff and Gay Allen, Bill and Charlotte Gardner, Neil and Elizabeth Glover, Elizabeth Gill, Will Glover and Laurence Glover, Frank and Pam Bonderaunt, and Jamey and Gayle Westbrook. Graveside funeral services will be Friday, April 26, 2024 beginning at eleven o’clock in the morning at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens with Dr. Nathan Attwood & Reverend Bill Elwell officiating and James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel directing. The family will receive friends Thursday from 5 – 7pm in the Wesley Center at First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Jackson County Education Foundation, Post Office Box 1138, Marianna, Florida 32447. Expressions of sympathy may be made online at www.jamesandsikesfuneralhomes.com
