Betty Lou Hill's Obituary
Remembering Betty
On December 1, 1934, William Edward and Madella Desmuke became the proud parents of Betty Lou Desmuke in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Betty was baptized at the early age of seven at the Muskogee Church of Christ.
She attended the local schools until the age of 15, when her family relocated to Oakland, California in 1950. She graduated from McClymonds High School in 1953. She met her husband, Thurman William Gray Sr., while in high school and they married in June 1953. Four children were born to that union: Jacquleine, Carmen Nannette, A. LaJoy and Thurman William Jr. After her relationship ended with Thurman Sr., she later married Leory Hill in July 1976.
Betty continued attending the Church of Christ with her family after arriving in Oakland. She attended in West Oakland, East Oakland, Berkeley and ended at the San Pablo Avenue Church of Christ. She felt her work with the church was truly rewarding and volunteered her time as much as possible with the church ministries. Among those were the Circle of Sisters ministry where she served as President for a brief period of time supporting the women’s ministry. She also volunteered her time with the benevolence ministry and always provided encouragement to the leaders of the church.
Betty worked at the Oakland Army Base where she was a Supervisory Transportation Specialist. Her responsibilities required her to travel abroad on occasion, more frequently to Okinawa, Japan. She was amused by the fact that many Japanese in Okinawa had never seen a person as tall as her and always wanted to take pictures with her! She really enjoyed her job and was a dedicated worker who received many exceptional performance awards during her career with the government. Betty retired from the Oakland Army Base after more than 30 years of service.
Betty was affectionately known as Granny Boop by her 12 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren whom she loved spending time with. Betty was named after the character “Betty Boop” but since the children couldn’t call her “Betty” out of respect, they decided that Granny Boop was the next best thing. Granny Boop enjoyed sleepovers with the children, cooking together, enjoying music, dancing and most importantly, learning to clean up! Holidays were some of her favorite times with all of her children. She always motivated her children to be respectable individuals and encouraged them to excel and never stop learning.
Betty departed this life on May 5, 2024 at 10:50am. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Madella Desmuke, husband Leory Hill, sister, Willie Jackson and brothers, Edward Davis and Lamar Desmuke.
Betty leaves to cherish her precious memory: her daughters, Jacqueline Adams (Fred), Carmen Huntar (Toyin Sr.), A. LaJoy Nieves (Moses); son Thurman Gray Jr; granddaughters, Surulayo Huntar, Olunike Huntar, Monet Adams, Dayo Lewis (Dustin), Brittany Gray, Shaylah Gray, Sharday Winchester; grandsons, Brandon Chatman (Natasha), Thurman Gray III, Toyin Huntar Jr. (Iniobong), Albert Gilbert Jr., Dorjan Fritz; stepdaughters, Sheilah Johnson, Geneva Hill and Rhonda Ford; and a host of great-grandchildren, and other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
What’s your fondest memory of Betty?
What’s a lesson you learned from Betty?
Share a story where Betty's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Betty you’ll never forget.
How did Betty make you smile?