Obituary of Betty Smith

Betty James Smith August 20, 2015 Betty James Smith, 96, of Cazenovia, died Thursday, August 20, 2015. She was born February 13, 1919 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, a daughter to the late, James Elmo Higgins and Adele Leib Higgins. Betty attended Pottsville schools and graduated from Wilson College, cum laude, in 1940. She earned her Master's Degree and her C.A.S. at Syracuse University. Betty married Benjamin F. James in 1940 and they had five children. Betty was a school teacher and taught English and Latin. She had taught in Pottsville High School for three years and for the Fayetteville-Manlius School District for 17 years. After her retirement, Betty did private tutoring to help students with their S.A.T. exams. She was a member of the Syracuse Alliance Church where she was a former chairman and teacher with their Sunday school program. In 1980, she married H. Martin Smith. In addition to her husband, Betty is survived by five children, Benjamin F. "Jim" James of Toledo, OH, Jay James of Tully, Jill James Leonard of Hillsborough, NJ, Jack James of Fort Myers, FL and Jeff James of Seminole, FL.; nine grandchildren; five great grandchildren and one niece. Funeral services are 11 a.m. Thursday, August 27, 2015 at the Syracuse Alliance Church, 3112 Midland Ave., Syracuse. Private graveside services will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Cazenovia. Michael E. Brown Funeral Services of Cazenovia has care of arrangements.