Betty Jean Young

Betty Jean Russell Young went to be with Jesus in the early hours of the morning on February 15th, 2026 at the Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home. She is preceded in death by her parents, Alva James Russell and Lena Moore Russell. Also waiting to meet her in Heaven are her husband Willie H. Young, her son Jerry Dean Young, her granddaughter Lori Ann Keisler, sisters Lucille Russell & Dorothy Haney and brothers Franklin D. Russell, Ted Cecil Russell & Burnett H Russell Sr. She leaves behind many family members to cherish her memory including her brother and sister-in-law, James M. & Gwen Russell, her daughter Ginger Keisler and son-in-law, Billy Keisler; granddaughter Courtney Keisler Petty (Allen), great grandchildren Garrett Williams (Aubrey Broadway), Patrick Williams (Brooklyn), Aaron Petty (Krislyn), Jessica Gibson (Matthew); and great great-grandchildren Allison, Kinley, Oakley Jane & Harper Paige. Her light will continue to shine through her nieces Lisa Russell Nix (Greg), Kim Russell Smith (Robert), Dawn Russell Hooper (Chad) and Dena Russell and her nephews LD & Michael Russell and a number of great and great great-nieces and nephews.

Betty was born on June 13, 1931 to Alva J. and Lena Russell in her grandparent’s home in Del Rio, Tennessee. At a young age, her family relocated to Monarch, SC. She married her husband Willie, the love of her life, in 1947. Betty spent her career as a seamstress and in multiple jobs in the textile industry at the Ace Sweater Mill. Her husband, Willie, would often bring fabric scraps home from his job at Cone Mills and Betty would sew outfits from her own patterns for her nieces. After leaving Ace, she continued to sew for her community from her home. She sewed outfits and special occasion clothing for her community for many years until she and her husband, Willie, opened Young’s Variety Shop where they sold CB radios and accessories. They were affectionately known as Boxcar Willie and Mama B to their CB community. She also cared for her bed ridden mother, Lena, until her passing in 1992.

Betty was a member of Unity United Methodist Church until its recent closing. She was in charge of the UMYF there for many years and also sang in the choir. She was not only the matriarch of her family but served as such to her entire community, she was most often referred to as Mommaw Betty. As long as she was able, it was her custom to cook a full Sunday lunch each week and all were welcome to come eat no matter the time of day. If someone was unable to come get a plate, she sent Willie out with one to make sure no one went without.

Mommaw Betty cherished her family and was the glue that held everyone together, making sure that everyone had a home and knew the feeling of “grandmotherly love.” From caring for her baby brothers as a child, to crawling around in the floor with her great great-granddaughters and great great-nephews and niece she made sure that every effort was made to share her love across four generations. The way she cared for her people made the world a better place. She was so looking forward to holding her babies in Heaven and seeing all of her family again and her earthly family takes great comfort in knowing the day of rejoicing it has been for her. In the days since her passing, many of us have found ourselves humming the hymns and gospel songs that she always had playing in the background of her life. While her song has ended, her melody lingers on.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, February 21, 2026 at the S.R. Holcombe Funeral Chapel conducted by Rev. Mary Nichols. Burial will follow the services at Union Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM prior to the service.

Active pallbearers will be Garrett Williams, Patrick Williams, Aaron Petty, Greg Nix, Myles Kehoe and Chad Hooper.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home.