Betty J. McCord

Betty Jean Smith McCord was born on March 4, 1940, in Bowman, SC. She was the 6th of 9 children born to Permon W. Smith and Pauline S. (Glover) Smith. She peacefully passed away on January 20, 2020, at Prisma Baptist Health in Columbia, SC. She was affectionately called GiGi by her Great Grand Children.

She received her early education at Bowman Elementary, Middle and High Schools.  In 1963 she and her husband relocated to Jersey City, NJ where she received both her Bachelor’s degree in 1975 and her Master's Degree in 1979 from New Jersey City University. She was a Home Instructor in the Jersey City school system from 1975 to 1978, a Graduate Assistant at New Jersey City University from 1978 to 1979, a certified teacher of Social Studies K-12 and a Reading Specialist from 1979 to 1981 at New Jersey City University. In 1981 she returned to South Carolina and became a Reading Specialist in Adult Education at Denmark Technical College in Denmark, South Carolina from 1982 to 1997. She started work on her Ph.D. but due to a near-fatal motor vehicle collision, she had to retire from Denmark Technical College in 1997.

She was a faithful member for nearly 40 years at Second Nazareth Baptist Church in Columbia, SC where she served as Assistant Director of Tutoring Programs, a Sunday School Teacher, a Bible Study Teacher, a Vacation Bible School Teacher, President of the General Missions, Founder and Director of the Women’s Ministry, President of the Jones McClerklin Missionary Society, Chair of the Courtesy & Benevolent Ministry and Financial Secretary for the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Association Woman’s Auxiliary. In 2019 she was honored to be named Woman of the Century for Second Nazareth Baptist Church.

Her career path led her to become a Consultant for Governor’s WorkForce Specialist in Denmark, a tutor from 1989 to 1990, Coordinator of Reading in Industry in Demark in 1989. She was a Liaison for the Police and Community Relation in Jersey City from 1978 to 1979, President of the New Castle West Community Organization in Columbia, SC from 1987 to 1992. She was a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, American Association of University Women, International Reading Association, South Carolina International Reading Association, South Carolina Association developmental Educators, Recording Secretary for the Wil Lou Gray Adult Reading in 1979, a member of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society. She has been a hospice volunteer, a volunteer tutor, a volunteer with the Suicide Prevention Hot-Line and has been the recipient of multiple awards and appreciations.

Her hobbies included traveling, reading, sewing, tutoring, and poetry writing. She was the author of a poem titled “Hugo” in 1989.

She was preceded in death by a daughter Sherry LaRose McCord, siblings James R. Smith, Minnie L. Kelly and, Roger W. Smith.

Left to morn her passing are her children Nathan A. McCord of Orangeburg, SC, Carla T. DeBarr (Dominic) of Irmo, SC, James E. McCord (Jennifer) of Snellville, Ga, Grand Children; Nathan A. McCord, Jr. of Keyport, NJ, Aisha I. Brown, Tamara A. DeBarr & Dominic E. DeBarr of Columbia, SC, Robert J. McCord, John E. McCord & Jada V. McCord of Snellville, Ga, Great Grands; Aiden McCord, Jasmin Hayward & Devon Hayward of Keyport, NJ, Timothy D. Morris, Tamiah I. Morris, Amari M. Morris, Amir N. Morris and Akil E. Morris all of Irmo, SC, Siblings; Janie L. Mitchell of Bowman, SC, Myrtle Campbell-Benony of Columbia, SC, Shirley T Ford of Orangeburg, SC, Permon W. Smith, Jr. (Clara) of Whitehall, PA, Johnnie M. Barber of Columbia, SC, Sisters-in-law, Daisy Smith of Jersey city NJ and Blondean Smith of Orangeburg, SC; God-Daughter Gwendolyn Faith Ulmer as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

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