Bettye Carol Davis' Obituary
Mrs. Bettye Carol Davis of Richmond, CA, passed away on June 27, 2019. Bettye was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl Ellsworth Jackson Sr. and Blanche Jackson of Kansas. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Gaynelle Vaughns, Phyllis Johnson, Kenneth Maples Sr., Bobby Maples and Carl E. Jackson Jr.
She was the birth mother of two sons, Thatcher Nance Jr. and Ndikho Woods. She was also “Nana” to many and mother to Eric Nance, Karen Nance, Robert Woods Jr., Anthony Woods and Kim Tubbs-Dyson. She has seven grandchildren: Adryan, Cachet, Ndikho Jr., Mahogany, Madison, Xavier and Menelik. Also mourning her passing are a host of other relatives, dear friends and co-workers, on whose lives she left her indelible mark.
Bettye, in her early years, demonstrated her commitment to her country by enlisting in the Navy in September, 1959. During her three years of dedicated service she was also an enthusiastic Navy cheerleader.
Upon being honorably discharged and receiving a medal of good conduct from the Navy in September of 1962 she relocated to San Francisco, CA. While living in San Francisco, she enrolled and graduated with an AA degree from San Francisco City College in 1968. Bettye continued her education at the University of California at Berkeley, obtaining both her BA in Psychology in 1971, and her MA in Education in 1974. Bettye became a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, the first African American sorority in the country, founded in 1908.
Bettye went on to support and establish programs that made major inroads in advocacy of childhood education with emphasis in special education. In 1974 she began her career as a school psychologist for the Oakland Unified School District and, during her seven year tenure, was promoted to Director of (GATE), the gifted and talented education program. Bettye was highly recognized, and internationally recruited as a Director of Special Education and Prep Services, for the Department of Defense Dependent Students in Wiesbaden, West Germany, in 1981. She later moved to Alexandria, VA, in 1983, where she supported education at the Pentagon. In 1984 she returned home to the Bay Area, where she accepted the position of Education Services Officer at the Oakland Army Base. In 1994, Bettye accepted the role of school psychologist for the West Contra Costa County School District until she retired in 2009.
Bettye continued to support education even after retiring, by volunteering with various educational organizations and panels. She also served as a Counselor for Alternative Schools such as Kappa, Omega and Vista High Schools.
Most recently, she continued as a school psychologist with what was Caliber Charter School. She is widely known and appreciated for all efforts in advocating for the best placement for students and their families.
Dr. Bettye Carol Davis’s impact on students, their families, and the community in the field of education will be forever remembered for her unwavering commitment to excellence.
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