Betty Sanders Whitt

Mrs. Betty Sanders Whitt, age 92, of Americus, passed away Sunday, April 5, 2026, at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at First Baptist Church in Americus. A visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until service time. A private interment will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Rev. Keith Parks and Rev.Rusty Mauldin will officiate the services.

Betty Carolyn Manley was born December 10, 1933, in Elberton, GA, to the late Elmer and Clara Manley. She loved flowers and gardening and took great pride in caring for her yard. That same spirit of care and dedication was reflected in her faith, which remained an important part of her life; she served in her church whenever she was able. She was a dedicated worker in nursing and education, and retired in 1994 from the office at Cherokee Elementary School. After her first husband, Clarence Sanders, passed away, she was blessed to find love again with Ellison Whitt, Sr., and with that her family grew in size and love.

She is survived by her children: Patti Sanders Reid (Jim) of Americus; Ann Sanders Beaver (John) of Americus; Gary Sanders (Kim) of Montrose, GA; and Greg Sanders (Tory) of Cary, NC. She is also survived by her step-children: Gale Owen (Ferrell), Peter Whitt (Martha Ann), Lisa Yoder (Harley), Tim Whitt (Kim), Mari Yoder (Nathan), Lee Whitt (Miriam), Prudence Yoder (Floyd), Julie Ward (Michael), and Becky Whitt. She is also survived by her sister, Dorothy Mullinex, of Norfolk, VA; her seven grandchildren: Ric Sanders (Caroline), Tyler Sanders (Abby), Kayla Bohannon (Blake), Megan Rozier (Dillon), Jase Reid (Courtney), Jamie Bledsoe (Bryant), and Caitlin Downs (Rett); and many step-grandchildren that she loved as her own. She will also be cherished by her fourteen great-grandchildren: James Sanders, Connor Sanders, Avery Sanders, Grayson Sanders, Hudson Sanders, Easton Sanders, Kennedy Bohannon, Reese Reid, Millie Reid, Ry Bledsoe, Baker Bledsoe, Lanie Bledsoe, Julie Downs, Jenny Downs, and one that is due in October 2026.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Sue Schwartz; her brothers, Wink Manley and Bobby Manley; her first husband, Clarence Esco Sanders; and her second husband, Ellison Leroy Whitt, Sr.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to First Baptist, The Mattie Marshall Center, or the American Cancer Society/?campaign=honormemorialmedia&gclsrc=aw.ds&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaignid=21603275924&utm_adgroupid=169792393161&utm_keyword=american%20cancer%20society&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21603275924&gbraid=0AAAAAD2heecVaEjByLHrJwcdOfjy0o5cj&gclid=CjwKCAjw1tLOBhAMEiwAiPkRHo8nJyRlCAsIaSyVOwFH4lXWYtC9TDX7I_rlPEbkfLvVkX35TyExTRoCqUAQAvD_BwE">American Cancer Society.