b. July 9, 1929bp. Madison Co., Tenn.
m. 1950, Hubert Howard Williams,
(b. 1924)
Betty Juanita is the youngest of the Watlington-Hammond siblings and took characterstics of the Hammond lineage in her short stature. She was born at home in the little box house beside the spring branch where the family had lived since 1913. The following year Grandfather Hammond died and plans were made to relocate the family to the larger Hammond home a few hundred yards across the fields.
Betty was very young during the worst of the Depression years but even so knew what they meant to the family. In years when cash was very scarce, oranges and apples were great Christmas gifts, and even common candies were a luxury. She grew up under the careful stewardship of Aunt Mai Hammond and her sister Evelyn as well as her mother Jennie.
After critical surgery in 1934 she responded well and was ready for school at age 6. She attended Malesus Methodist Church with the family and Malesus High School for twelve years of public education. Her brother Paul helped finance a piano and lessons so she could learn to play. She studied under Mrs. Judd Brooks of Jackson, Tenn. where Janice Threadgill also took lessons. She was an honor student of her high school class and progressed rapidly in her music which she has continued to use in her local church work.
Betty suffered some severe infections in her ears during her youth which has led to hearing difficulties. Nevertheless, she has been able to combine her homemaking and family life with a career of public school teaching in Madison Co., Tenn.
She and Hubert lived in Somerville some months, then he started to work with the Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Cooperative at Brownsville. They lived at Jackson some years, then bought a home in Brownsville. He continued to work there until his retirement and as opportunity came he bought the old Johnson house and large farming acreage about 1962 at 1880 Steam Mill Ferry Road, in Madison Co. With the help of Charlie and Irene Britton they have operated a cattle farm, produced cotton, soybeans and corn, and carried on their careers ``off the farm'' also.
They have participated in the Anderson Chapel Presbyterian Church at Madison Hall, and sent their five children to college. Both have been active in community activities as well, with Hubert taking part in the Rotary Club of Jackson for many years. Now they continue to be active grandparents and continue their farming interests.
Apart from rearing their five children their home has been shared with Mary Emma and John Andrew Watlington when needed. Mary made her weekend and Summer home with them during two years of college, 1975-77, and John Andrew was with them one Summer while working with Watlington Brothers, 1982. Since 1986 we have also celebrated our Christmas Reunion at their large farm home on the evening of Dec. 26th. With the closing of the old Hammond-Watlington homestead we welcomed their warm hospitality for our December gatherings. Their family and their caring have helped to hold our ``larger family'' together.
Hubert Williams was honored at a Retirement Luncheon on Friday March 30, 1990 by the Southwest Electric Membership Corporation where he had worked for 40 years. He has been General Manager there since Dec. 1977. Hubert is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and a veteran of World War II. He was severely wounded in the European War and was slow to recover his strength. Before becoming manager he served as Agricultural Engineer, Electrification Advisor and Power Use Manager with the E.M.C.
Southwest serves over 26,000 customers in a nine county area extending from Tipton County on the Mississippi River to Madison and Chester Counties. Well done, Hubert!