Betty Jean Day

Betty Jean Wise Day of Blakely, Ga., passed away peacefully at her home after an extended illness on Thursday, January 15, 2026. She was 93.

Betty was born October 25, 1932, in Abbeville, Ga., to the late Thomas Elvin Wise and Lille Mitchell Wise Erwin. Betty was preceded in death in 2016 by her husband of 65 years, Alvin Marshal Day; a son Alvin Mitchell Day in 1973 and siblings, Pauline Goff, Louise Cribbs, Frank Wise, Willie Mae Hall, Myrtle Powell, Blonnie Self and Thomas Wise.

Betty is survived by her two daughters, Deborah McLendon (Hoyle) and Jan Barron (Jack) all of Blakely; her son, Danny Day (Marion) of Jasper, Ga.; an adopted daughter, Marjorie Sagona (Frank) of Milton, Fla.; her brother Carl Douglas Erwin (Sarah) of Blakely, and sister-in-law Paula Day of Laurens, S.C.

She is also survived by her grandchildren Kristen McLendon Wieler (Tuck), Tre McLendon (Joanna), Alexandria McLendon Phillips (Josh), Allison Howard Rust (Rob), Ashley Howard Rhodes (Brent), Ethan Barron, Tyler Day, Libby Day, Sheri Taylor, David Shawn Murphy and great-grandchildren, Caroline Weiler Coneys (Calvin), Logan and Oliver Wieler; Tucker, Hannah and Addison McLendon; Caitlin and Lily Lovering; Avery and Annaleigh Phillips; Ward, Andrew and Chase Rust; Carter and Ella Rhodes; Brittany Taylor, David Taylor, Alex Murphy, and great-great grandchildren Anneliese Throgmorton and Abigail Marsh. Betty also had many nieces and nephews whom she claimed as her own children who also knew Betty as their Memama.

Betty was the matriarch of her family. When a family maintains close relationships through multiple generations, it is due in large part to parents who love unconditionally. The marriage of Betty and Marshal Day was a powerful example of unconditional love for family, friends and all who knew them. This love was expressed in many ways, especially through cherished family traditions. One of the most meaningful was the annual Christmas Eve gathering of immediate and extended family, which was a tradition that continued without interruption for more than seventy-five years. Passed down from Alvan and Pearl Day, this legacy of love and togetherness endured through generations. This year, 38 family members gathered in Betty’s bedroom for the blessing before the Christmas Eve meal at Betty’s request. For over 90 years as the Day family, their foundation was a nightly routine of reading God’s Word, its application to their lives, and prayer that the family circle would not be broken in heaven.

Betty demonstrated visionary leadership, an aptitude for business and sales, hospitality, wisdom and laughter, and strong support of the community. With a bold testimony of her love and witness for Jesus, she did not understand silence regarding Jesus. Because of her willingness to share Jesus, the largest flower arrangement she ever received, over three feet in height and diameter, was sent to her by a young man after a spam call who told her no one had ever told him about Jesus.

Betty sought to excel in every aspect of life. She supported Marshal in community organizations as a Jaycette and Lioness. She and Marshal were partners with business leaders who led the Early County Clean-up and Beautification Campaign in the 1970s. She was a founding member of the Early County PTA, PTA president and director of District One Georgia Congress of Parents and Teachers Association when segregation was a dividing factor in the schools and community. She served the community as president of the Women’s Club, president of the Garden Club, and her church as a Sunday school teacher along with other various roles in the First Freewill Baptist Women Auxiliary and the First Freewill Baptist Association.

As a member of the Blakely Union High School Class of 1950, Betty’s employment began in high school in Boyett’s Department Store with Mrs. Ruth Jordan as her mentor. She worked as a Stanley sales representative, a bookkeeper for Red Knighton at Early Furniture Company, the ASCS office and a secretary and ambassador for the Blakely-Early County Chamber of Commerce. She later served as a representative for the National Chamber of Commerce office. She founded Better Bodies in collaboration with Mayo Clinic which exemplified her passion for nutrition. She expanded her network of friendships as an Amway distributor and began Allday Communication with Alltel where she excelled in sales with both companies.

On her 90th birthday, Betty communicated her love for life and people by inviting the entire community to her home for cake and ice cream, which was also celebrated with singing and dancing with Elvis. Her love for musicand dance began with the love of her life and favorite dancing partner, Marshal.

A visitation will be held at Manry-Jordan-Hodges Funeral Home Sunday, January 18, 2026, from 4-6 p.m. Services will be held Monday, January 19, 2026, at 11 a.m. at First Freewill Baptist Church in Blakely with Royce Horne and Chris Guffey officiating, and eulogy given by Brad Hughes. Interment will follow at Blakely Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Tyler Day, Tuck Wieler, Tre McLendon, Josh Phillips, Rob Rust, Brent Rhodes, Shawn Murphy and Tucker McLendon.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Betty’s caregivers, Abigail Levatt, Carolyn Hayes, Leticia Tinson, Sandra Brown and Christina Davis.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Blakely Gideons, P.O. Box 109, Blakely, Georgia 39823 or to a mission ministry of your choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Manry-Jordan-Hodges Funeral Home.