Bettie Mildred Pierce

Bettie Mildred Pierce, 88, of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, died peacefully in her sleep Monday, April 4, 2016, at her Trinity Village residence. Born Elizabeth Mildred Smith on October 19, 1927, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Bettie—or Mimi as she was affectionately known by her family and friends—was the third child and only daughter of the late Ray S. Smith Sr. and Elisabeth Young Smith. After graduating from Hot Springs High School, Bettie attended Randolph-Macon Woman's College (now Randolph College) in Lynchburg, Virginia, where she earned a degree in social work. While taking summer courses at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1947, she met the man who would become the love of her life, J. Richard Pierce Jr. Bettie and Dick would eventually marry on December 29, 1949, and they remained in love for 53 years until his death in 2003. Bettie moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, to be with her new husband while he was a student at Tulane University School of Medicine. After earning his medical degree, the Pierces moved back to Arkansas, first to Little Rock, then to Dr. Pierce's hometown of Pine Bluff, where Bettie helped him launch a successful medical practice. Bettie was a very active member of the Pine Bluff community. Her many volunteer efforts included work and leadership roles with the Salvation Army, which was her passion; the Jefferson Hospital auxiliary; Junior Auxiliary; the Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) program; the Contact telephone ministries; United Methodist Women; and numerous Bible study groups. A long-time member of First United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff, Bettie served as a Sunday school teacher, primarily for high-school age students, for more than 50 years. Her Sunday school classes revolved around "the Sermon on the Mount." Hers was a message of selflessness and of giving of oneself to God and to others, a message she lived out in her own life. Bettie had a gift for working with yarn, whether it was knitting, needlepoint, or cross-stitch. In 1978, she turned her hobby into a business, Sweet P's, which she owned and operated until 1988. Bettie was also a great reader, with a particular fondness for Agatha Christie mysteries. But above all she loved and was devoted to her family. She leaves behind five children, Rick (Kathy) of Pine Bluff; Ruston (Ann) of Little Rock; Reid (Barbie) of Pine Bluff; Elizabeth Pierce-Durance (Lawrence) of Edwards, Colorado; and Ray of Little Rock. She was also blessed with 14 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. Besides being predeceased by her parents and husband, Bettie was also predeceased by her two accomplished brothers, veteran member and former Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives, the late Ray S. Smith, Jr.; and the late Gen. William Y. Smith, USAF (ret.). Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Friday, April 8, 2016 at First United Methodist Church with Reverend Mike Morey and Reverend Fred Arnold officiating. Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday evening from 5-7 p.m. at Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 8003, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71611 or Salvation Army, 501 East 12th Avenue, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.