BETTYE WRIGHT

Bettye Jo Stevenson-Wright, 89, of Kansas City, Mo., died on Friday, March 10, 2023, at her home. She was born in Gene Autry, Okla., on August 24, 1934, to Leonard and Lila Stevenson, who both preceded her in death.

Also known as “BJ”, she attended Lincoln High school in Gene Autry. During her high school days, she played point guard for the basketball team that also included some of her sisters. She was also a member of the 4H-Club. After her graduation in 1953, she moved to Kansas City, Mo., where she met the love of her life, Ozzie Bill “O.B.” Wright. They would later marry and were blessed with five beautiful children.

Mrs. Wright was baptized at a very young age. You could say the church house was like a second home to her all of her life. She was a faithful member of the Sacred Mission Baptist church from 19621977. While there, she served as the church clerk and on the usher board under the leadership of Rev. L. O. Williams. When he retired, she joined the Mt. Sinai MBC family under the leadership of Rev. Fate White Jr. While there, she served as the financial secretary, president of the usher ministry, and on the deaconess ministry. She also won the Mt. Sinai 50th Anniversary Queen Contest. In July 2015, she became a charter member of the Lighthouse MBC under the leadership of Rev. Thomas Shelton. While there she served as a “Mother” and a member of the Women’s Missionary Union. She faithfully served until she could no longer attend.

She worked as a receptionist for Jensen Salsbery Laboratory for a few years and she also briefly worked for the Kansas City Life Insurance company.

While Mrs. Wright loved the Lord, her family, and her friends, her special “ministry” was in the kitchen. Her family did not dine out. Eating home cooked meals was a way of life for the family. Those holiday meals were like banquets fit for a king and she did all the cooking. But those desserts Bettye made were world famous. Everyone loved Bettye’s delicious chocolate cakes, rich brownies, and amazing pies.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her siblings, Napoleon Stevenson, Zella Mae Jones, Ponzetta Allen, Warren G. Stevenson, William Stevenson, Otis Stevenson, Neta Randle, Reba Dowdy; her grandsons, Berzillious Shackelford and Allen Rodgers.

She leaves to cherish her memory her children: Wanda Williams (Burnette), Wendell Wright (Tonya), Iva Wright (John), Queen Marcia Wright, Michele Shackelford (Reginald); sisters, Winona Murray, Bennye Fuller, June E. Moody; sister-in-law, Cleta Stevenson; brothernephew, Johnny Starr (Clara); 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, three greatgreat-grandchildren; and a host of nephews, nieces, and other relatives and friends who all loved her dearly and will greatly miss her.

A public viewing will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist church, 3635 Brooklyn Avenue, Kansas City, Mo., with Minister Marilyn Gray, officiating. Funeral services will begin promptly at 11 a.m.

Burial, Forest Hill cemetery.

Arrangements by the Golden Gate Funeral & Cremation Services, LLC.

Queen Adjwilla Matthews, was born October 27, 1959, to Homer Matthews Jr., and Adjwilla K. Moore-Matthews in Kansas City, Kas., at the University of Kansas Medical center.

She attended F.L. Schlagle High school and graduated in 1977. After graduation, she attended Texas college in Tyler, Texas from 1977-1979. Queen served in the U.S. Military (Army) from 1979-1985 as an E5 Specialist. In 2022, Queen officially retired from the United States Postal Service, serving over 30 years.

She received Christ at an early age and was baptized in 1973, at the Calvary Baptist church in Kansas City, Kas. She was known as a very caring, giving, and loving person. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling, shopping, and watching movies. She never met a stranger.

She will be deeply missed by many to cherish her memory. She leaves behind four children: Grenesha B. Upton, Gregory Upton Jr., Da’Keisha Wilson and Tejuanie White; five grandchildren: Ollieauna Reid, Anniston Upton, Dakota Smith, Aaron Upton and Seth White; fur baby: Tiny; siblings: Herbert Matthews (Kimberly), Amanda Matthews, Carlos Matthews, Muncie MatthewsSowell (Elvester III), Tracy Jones (Paul), Lawana Brown, Noland Matthews, Homer Harrison, Homer Holder, Jeremy Holder, Demarco Holder, Michael Holder, Homerann Davis, Denise Moore-Arnold (Charles), John W. Moore Jr., and Eugene Moore; one living aunt: Dorothy Clark; a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Preceding her in death: Adjwilla K. Matthews (Mother); Homer Matthews Jr. (Father); one sister, Joyce L. Moore; four brothers: Benjamin Matthews, Hubert Matthews, Bobby Ray Matthews Sr., Victor Green; three nephews: Delvin Matthews, Elvester Sowell IV, Donald Porter; and seven uncles and seven aunts.

Service to be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 3 p.m. at the Forest Grove Baptist church, 1417 N. 9th Street, Kansas City, Kas.

Visitation is from 2 to 3 p.m.

Interment, Leavenworth National cemetery, 150 Muncie Rd., Leavenworth, Kas., Monday, March 27, 2023 10 a.m.

Funeral Service entrusted to the Elite Funeral chapel, 11525 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. Tele: (816) 765-0141 / Fax: (816) 765-5500.

Juvenile Justice center in Jackson County for 16 years, until he began to experience medical issues which forced him into early retirement.

He leaves to cherish with loving memories his mother, Ethel Smith-Johnson of Kansas City, Mo.; brothers, Gary Smith of the City, Nolan Pinkney (Calista) of St. Joseph, Mo.; Shuan Parker (Kimberly) of Joliet, Ill.; and godbrother, Darren Carter (Anita); and god sister, Theresa Williams (Johnny) of Kansas City, Kas.; aunts, Alice Parker and Patricia Thompson; his special cousins, LaTrice Parker and Herbert Parker Jr. (Traneisha); nieces, Camilla Pinkney, Gabrielle Parker, Joy Parker, Edith and Emma Parker; nephews, Ezekiel Smith, Savonne Pinkney, Malcolm and Marlin Williams, Sullivan Franklin Jr.; uncles, Muriel Pinkney, LeRoy Smith Jr.; cousin, Lauren Soloman; a host of relatives and many, many friends

Funeral Services are on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 11 a.m., at the Elite Funeral chapel.

Visitation is from 10 to 11 a.m.

Professional Services entrusted to the Elite Funeral chapel, 11525 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. Tele: (816) 765-0141 / Fax: (816) 765-5500.