Betty Dodd

Betty Dodd Kemp

Betty Dodd Kemp passed away on July 21, 2022.

BETTY BOND KEMP (DODD)
June 30, 1943 – July 21, 2022

Betty passed away Thursday, July 21, 2022. Betty (Titter) was born June 30. 1943, in New Orleans, LA, to Herbert & Annie Lou Dodd. Betty grew up on the coast of Mississippi and graduated from Gulfport High. She married Marvin Cuevas and had three children. She went on to become the first female carpenter in the New Orleans Local 1946 Carpenters Union after her divorce. There, she met her husband Elliot Leroy Kemp and became a blended family of 8. She was also a member of the Naval Reserves, joining in1979. After over 30 years in the Union, she retired and moved to Copiah County in Mississippi. There she became a member of the Saint Francis of Assisi Church where she started the community garden and taught CCD.

She enrolled at Copiah-Lincoln Community College at the age of 67 where she was put on the Dean's list, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and eventually graduated with honors in 2013, all while raising two of her grandchildren. She loved to stay busy, whether that was building, painting, or gardening. Her eye for beauty will be greatly missed but will be survived by all of the beautiful things she has created in her life.

Betty was preceded in death by her mother Annie Lou Dodd, her father Herbert Dodd, and step-daughter Montine Kemp. She is survived by her husband Leroy, her daughter, Angela Johnson, her sons Dennis and Roy Cuevas, her step daughter, Stephanie Kemp, her step sons Cecil and Dale Kemp, their spouses, all 19 of her grandchildren, and plenty of great grandchildren. She was a bright light on any dark day and could make you believe in yourself even when you didn't want to. She was an inspiration to everyone she came in contact with and will continue to inspire everyone who knew her.