Bettye (Steele) Motley

Bettye Steele Motley, born the 2nd child to the late Jessie Mae Clay on January 23, 1955 in Autauga County, AL.  For 65 years, she was with beauty and grace, always pleasant, and never met a stranger.  Friends, family, and anyone she met would experience her curiosity (question asking) as well as her blunt, but always honest responses.  She was loved by many and fought a good fight; God saw she was tired and welcomed her home on Tuesday morning June 30, 2020.

Bettye accepted Christ into her life at an early age and became a member of Greater Pine Grove MBC under the leadership of Reverend Samuel Cleveland.  After marriage, she became a member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, under Pastor John E. Clay, where she faithfully served on the usher Board, Missionary Board, and as a member of the Deacon's Wives.

On December 21, 1974, she married her high school sweetheart, Curtis C. Motley, and their union was blessed with three children.  Although she became a mother at 19, education was always a driving force in her life, thanks to one of her greatest mentors, Mr. Bobby Ziegler, She spent many years working at Autaugaville High School as an aide and Bookkeeper, where she formed many lifelong relationships with student, faculty, and staff.  As the years progressed, she worked at various colleges / universities, including Alabama State University, Auburn University-Montgomery, AL, and lastly Wallace Community College-Selma, AL.  While employed at AUM, she obtained her Bachelors of Arts-Liberal Arts and Master of Education in Counseling.  

Bettye was preceded in death by her mother, one sibling: Shirley Denise Clay and three brothers-in-law: McArthur Motley, Robert "Bill" Motley, and Edward "Popcorn" Golson.

She leaves to cherish many memories: a loving husband of 45 years, Curtis Charles; three children: Adrian Motley, Fairburn, GA; DeNiki (Marquiis) Oliver; Marquita Motley, both of McCalla, AL.  Four sisters: Exie C. Price, Dorothy Clay, Ruby Clay, all of Autaugaville, AL; and Chenelle (George) Wood, Prattville, AL.  One brother, Larry (Marlene) Clay, Autaugaville, AL.  Three sisters-law: Jene Golson, Eula (Anthony) Tillery, Linda Motley, Prattville, AL; Two brothers-in-law: Samuel (Ethel) Motley, Autaugaville, AL; Franklin (Patsy) Motley, Prattville, AL.  A first cousin, loved as a sister, Barbara McCray, Chicago, IL.  Three grandchildren: Marquis Oliver, Jr., Whit Rawlinson, and Sammaria davis.  Two daughters of love - Oreal (Jeremy) Hixon, Alabaster, AL and Anu Ogunyemi, Dallas, TX.  Four cousins she loved as her own children, Brenda (Jimmie) Nixon, Jean Tyus, Rita TYus, Prattville, AL; and Tasha Tyus, Autaugaville, AL and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and family.

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