Betty Flanagan

Betty Carolyn Smith Flanagan was born to Raymond Lee Smith and Antoinette Marie (Epps) Smith on April 2, 1941 in Waskom, Texas. Betty was the second of seven children; Barbara Ray (deceased), Kenneth Raymond (deceased), Joseph Larry (deceased), Helen Denise, Ronald Barry, and Michael Howard and proudly wore the badge of the big sister.

At an early age, her Christian foundation was formed at home and was exhibited by her outward expression of baptism at the New Boggy Baptist Church. 

An avid student from the beginning, she began her education at the New Boggy Elementary School in 1946. She continued her education through the Elysian Fields School District excelling in academics and athletics, and graduated at the top of her class from Booker T. Washington High School in 1958.

She matriculated through Bishop College (Marshall/Dallas,Texas) where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1961. Upon graduation, she began her formal employment with Dallas Independent School District. Betty continued her personal goals in education culminating with earning a Master’s of Education from Prairie View A & M University. Betty’s tenure with Dallas ISD afforded her opportunities to impact many lives beyond the local region for more than five decades. Her expertise and excellence as an educator enabled her to share her knowledge of science in facilitating sessions, seminars and conferences.

Betty and Curtis Flanagan (deceased) were united in holy matrimony on October 3, 1971. With their daughters, Sametria and Curtique, they became a loving family. Betty and Curtis were dedicated members of Riverside Missionary Baptist Church where they both faithfully served as deaconess and deacon. Betty also actively supported several church auxiliaries including the Missionary Society, the Building Fund, Vacation Bible School, Baptist Training Union (BTU) and youth groups.

Betty was an active member in various civic and community organizations such as the Dallas Metropolitan Business and Professional Women’s Club, and Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated where she held many leadership roles. Her civic involvement also remained connected to her background in education.  Betty played a role in important efforts that positively impacted the city of Dallas and DISD as an active participant in the Confluence of Cultures Desegregation Plan for DISD in the 1970s, and within the National Teacher Corps; an organization established to improve the quality of education in disadvantaged areas.

Understanding the growing need to care for her aging mother, Betty opted to retire from Dallas ISD in 2010. In her retirement, her love for sports grew even more as “G-mama” cheered up close and personal her three “number one g-sons”… HER BOYS. She was truly their #1 fan, and there was rarely a game where you didn’t see her smiling face in the stands. Her patent, high pitch phrase, “HYDRATE AND A DRY TOWEL” became known throughout stadiums, fields and basketball courts in and out of the state.

Betty’s life spoke volumes. Her family was her pride and joy. She enjoyed small and big accomplishments with family from school breakfasts and programs, plays and musicals, graduations, weddings and holidays. Her kind spirit led her to assist her church and community. Her love for nature resulted with spending hours upon hours in the garden, nurturing house plants and spent many weekends saleing (visiting estate sales) in the metroplex.

Betty Carolyn leaves to cherish her loving memories, her daughters: Sametria, Curtique (Michael); three grandsons: Jamil, Micah and Cameron; one sister: Helen (Jimmy); two brothers: Ronald (Jeanetta) and Michael (Jackie) and "Aunt B's Cookies"; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members and special friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Betty Flanagan, please visit our floral store.