Elizabeth Newman

Elizabeth “Betty” Pilcher Newman passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 26, 2011 after a long illness. She was born on September 13, 1921 in Carter Oklahoma, the fifth child of Lilly Mae Pilcher and Josiah Micagah Pilcher.

Her love of learning and achievement as a scholar was a constant throughout her life. She graduated Salutatorian from Carter High School and was class Valedictorian at Oklahoma Western Junior College. She completed Bachelor’s and Master’s of Arts degrees in American History and Government at the University of Oklahoma. She brought her extensive knowledge of history and passion for teaching to thousands of middle and high school children throughout her long career as an educator. She taught and tutored History and American Government in Oklahoma, Caracas, Venezuela, Texas, New Jersey and Mississippi.

Betty married Robert C. “Bob” Newman on February 16, 1946. They met at his brother Harry’s wedding in August of 1945 and fell instantly in love; a love that lasted 66 years. A devoted wife, Betty called Bob “her window to the world” and together they traveled to and lived in many places before taking root in Brandon, MS in 1978 where they remained until 2004. They lived nine years in Venezuela where she raised their three children and taught Social Studies and English at Campo Alegre, a school for American children in Caracas.

Her family returned to the States in 1964, relocating to Beaumont, Texas for seven years, where she taught Jr. High Social Studies and became a leader in the Area Council for Social Studies.

After Beaumont, she followed Bob to Brunei, on the island of Borneo, where they lived for two years. There Betty studied Chinese, eventually learning 2000 characters. It was also there where she developed her artistic skills, often taking her easel to the beach to paint. They again returned to the States, settling for five years in Montclair, New Jersey before moving to Brandon, Mississippi in 1978 where she taught until retiring from Brandon Academy in 1985.

In Brandon, Betty became a prolific artist using many different mediums to paint, including oils, acrylics and watercolors, and developed a passion for china painting. Betty is a founding member and past president of the Mississippi Porcelain Artists Guild. She was well known for her china painting - selling and donating many beautiful pieces. Her canvases and china adorn her home and those of her family and friends.

Betty was a member of Crossgates Methodist Church in Brandon where she taught the Bethel Bible Course for ten years and volunteered at the church Children’s Center.

Health concerns prompted Betty and Bob to relocate closer to their children and they moved to Spring, Texas in 2004. In 2008 they moved to Woodland Ridge Assisted Living in Smyrna, Georgia.

She is survived by her husband Robert; her children, Anita Kay Newman of South Carver, Massachusetts; Roger Clarke Newman and his wife, Marilyn of Spring, Texas; Randolph Eugene Newman and his wife, JoAnne of Smyrna, Georgia; grandchildren: Kelly Lynne Ivutin and husband, Oleg, of Smyrna, Georgia; Richard Clarke Newman and wife, Davia of Decatur, Alabama; Kristin Laine Newman of San Francisco, California; and Clark Patrick Newman and wife, Valerie of Tacoma Park, Maryland; four great-grandchildren: Luka William Ivutin, Stefan Clarke Ivutin, Maxeem Gregory Ivutin, and Logan Elizabeth Newman, many nieces and nephews. Betty was the first to say, “I have been very lucky and I have lived a wonderful life.”

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 10 at 11 am at Crossgates United Methodist Church, 23 Crossgates Drive, Brandon, MS 39042. The family will receive friends at the church beginning at 10 am. Memorial gifts may be made in Betty’s honor to Crossgates United Methodist Church or to the Woodland Ridge Foundation, 4005 South Cobb Drive, Smyrna, GA 30080.