Betty J. Henry

On July 9th, 1944, the Lord blessed Dollie M. Tanksley and Walker McLloyd with a daughter, Betty Henry.

Betty was born in Beach Island, South Carolina and raised in Savannah, Georgia.  She attended Woodsville Elementary and Junior High School. Betty graduated from Tompkins High School in 1963 and was given the title “Most Athletic Girl” by her school. At nine years old, Betty was baptized and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. In 1963, Betty joined the Women Army Corp after graduating from high school. She achieved the rank of Specialist Four during her tour. In 1966, Betty was honorably discharged. Afterwards, Betty attended nursing school at Harbor College and graduated with an Associate of Art degree in Nursing. Betty worked as a nurse for thirty years until she retired from Loma Linda University Medical Center in 2000.

In 1988, Betty found her church home with Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church where she participated in various ministries such as the choir, mission chorus, ruth circle, jail ministry, the nurse’s guild, and visited convalescent homes. She loved her Pastor L.E Campbell and her church family dearly. Betty was a loveable, friendly, caring person who always thought of others before herself. She loved reading Danielle Steel’s romance novels along with Nora Roberts’ novels. Betty had her first-born son, Ray Anthony Stevenson in 1966. Betty met and married her first husband, Edward Promis, and from that union she had one child, Ryan Allen Promis who was born in 1975. In 1986, Betty married her second husband, McKinley Lewis Henry, who Betty thanked the Lord for blessing her with his presence.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents Dollie and Walker, her brother Julius Tanksley of Miami, Florida, her sister Dorothy Tanksley of Brooklyn, New York, and her first husband Edward of Los Angeles. Betty leaves to cherish her memory her husband McKinley Henry of Moreno Valley, two sons Ray Anthony Stevenson of San Bernardino, CA, and Ryan Allen Promis and his wife Myisha Promis of Riverside, CA. Betty also leaves seven grandchildren to cherish her memory: Ray Stevenson Jr., Mia Stevenson, Mya Stevenson, Alisha Promis, Ryan Promis Jr., Rodrick Promis, and Reese Promis. Additionally, Betty leaves a host of nieces including a special love for her niece April Owens of Brooklyn, New York, three nephews, brother-in-law, John Henry and sister-in-law Marilyn Henry, cousins including a special love for her cousin Sylvester Jones of Columbus, Georgia, other relatives, beloved friend Detra Ross of Mississippi, as well as all her other friends to cherish her memory. We will miss her dearly.

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