Betty Jane Laws

Betty Jane Parker Laws was born June 26, 1939, in Cincinnati, Ohio to Newton Parker and Rutha (Ruth) Mae Scott. She completed her Earthly journey on July 17, 2026. At the age of six, Betty accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and became a member of Revelation Baptist Church at 1554 John Street, walking distance from the family home on Baymiller Street. As a young adult, Betty joined New Prospect Baptist Church at 1829 Elm Street; she returned to Revelation in the 1980s. Throughout the 1960s and ‘70s, Betty enjoyed singing as an alto in various choirs.

Besides church involvement, there were three themes throughout Betty’s life: sports, education and music. She loved sports; if there was a ball in it, she could be found watching it on television – baseball, tennis, golf – enthusiastically rooting for her preferred team or player. She had the eye of an umpire or referee – calling balls and strikes and penalties through the screen. As a native of Cincinnati’s West End, she and friends sometimes walked to the Old Crosley Field on Western Avenue, where the Reds played baseball. She enjoyed recalling the Cincinnati tradition of the Reds’ Opening Day parade. At Taft High School, where she graduated in 1957, Betty played the team sports which were open to girls. After graduation, she sought opportunities to improve herself. As her children grew older, she took business classes in stenography and typing to seek office work, but her dream was to become a teacher. She gladly shared anything she learned with anyone who might benefit such as getting financial aid for college-aged students at her church.

Betty had ambition and a passion for the new opportunities that were beginning to open up to Black Americans, referred to as Negroes at the time. She shared this outlook with Willie B. Laws, who she met on a blind double date arranged by one of her friends from church. They married on July 23, 1960, a union sustained for 65 years until his death on August 14, 2025. Although she didn’t achieve her dream of becoming a teacher, she passed along her faith in Christ to the four children born to their union. Willie supported her as she encouraged each of their children in their own path through education, sports, music lessons, foreign languages and travel adventures.

Left to cherish the memory of Betty, her love and laughter (and Willie) are their children, Terri, Sherrie (Elijah), Wil (Meta) and Gary Newton, named for his maternal grandfather with whom he shared a birthday and his uncle, Betty’s brother, both of whom preceded her in death as did her mother, Ruth. She is also survived by: her sisters, Bobbie (William) Kelley and Shirley Bedgood; sister-in-law, Iola Simms; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends including special friends, Izora Hood, Florence Gilmore, Gladys Johnson and Peggy Moore (recently deceased), who faithfully provided expressions of care.

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