Betty French Meadows

Betty French Meadows, loving wife of Robert (Bob) Joseph Meadows, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Wednesday, July 28, 2021.  She was born Betty Joyce French on June 2, 1935 in Tallassee, Alabama; the only child of John Cluron French and Mary Joyce French (Davis).

     She was a lifelong learner and was relentless in her thirst for knowledge.   It was at Auburn University, where she met her husband, Bob, of 65 years.  

     In her high school and Auburn years, she worked with Sizemore  Company, where she learned much about the timber management business. In 1965, Betty and Bob moved to Rock Hill where she earned her BA in Economics at Winthrop College, followed by her Masters in Business Administration and Masters of Art in Teaching.   She became an Educator, where she taught in the middle schools in Rock Hill, at Winthrop College, University of South Carolina (USC) at Aiken, and USC Columbia, while she also pursued her PhD in Economics.

     In 1977, Betty joined the Dupont, later Westinghouse, team at Savannah River Plant, where she worked in information security for 21 years.   She then worked as a subcontractor for the US Government in multiple capacities, which allowed her to travel and learn many aspects of America, while also attending fascinating conferences -  including a conference at the Lawrence Livermore Lab with Edward Teller who was instrumental in developing the Hydrogen Bomb. 

     After employment, she enjoyed mastering all aspects of the financial markets and news, including predicting financial statistics for the Wall Street Journal “Crystal Ball” contest, that she won multiple times.

     Betty enjoyed many social activities including Bridge Club, the Aiken County Community Association (ACCA), the annual Aiken Triple Crown festivities and hosting celebrations in her home.  She enjoyed her golfing friends, the La Dee Da’s, with whom she and Bob traveled to Las Vegas, Atlanta, Callaway Gardens, the mountains, Myrtle Beach,  and many other places.  She and Bob also enjoyed the activities at the Palmetto, Woodside, Fripp, and Houndslake Clubs for many years.   She also enjoyed her time spent with her family on Fripp Island. 

     Betty was predeceased by her parents.  She is survived by her husband, Robert (Bob) Joseph Meadows; two daughters Mary Elizabeth (Beth) Meadows of Aiken, SC and Margaret Meadows Thomson (Olin Daniel “Danny”) of Charlotte, NC; granddaughters Mary Lawrence  (Lawren) Thomson of Atlanta, GA, and Susanna Maris Thomson of Durham, NC; sister-in-law Adna Meadows Scroggins of Montgomery, AL and many nieces and nephews.

     The family would like to express sincere gratitude to Vickie Hicks and Hubert Stewart for their many years of loyal care and service to Betty.

     A Celebration of Life at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Aiken, SC and Funeral Services in Tallassee, AL will be announced at later time, due to COVID19.

     In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John’s United Methodist Church, 104 Newberry St. NW, Aiken, SC 29801 or the American Lung Association, 55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60601 or https://action.lung.org/get-involved or 1-800-LUNGUSA.