Betty Ray Botts was often asked to sing at family and social gatherings, requests that irritated her two sons.
"She was a drama major," said David Botts, a son from Atlanta, "so it didn't bother her at all. Everywhere we went as kids, people wanted her to sing. It was embarrassing to my brother and (me), but she had a wonderful voice."
For her, performing came easy. She grew up singing, dancing and performing in Columbus. At 7, Mrs. Botts sang on a local radio station and she won countless contests and awards at Columbus High. Her parents allowed her to sing for servicemen in Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Opera became her forte; she sang in several languages.
Martha Spencer befriended Mrs. Botts at Delmar Gardens, a retirement community in Smyrna. The singer didn't talk much about the past, but she did play for Mrs. Spencer some recordings of her singing days while a University of Georgia co-ed.
"They were absolutely beautiful," Mrs. Spencer said. "I couldn't believe it. I was moved by the quality of her voice. Absolutely beautiful."
Three months ago, Mrs. Botts was diagnosed with lung cancer, which she died from on Feb. 15 at Hospice Atlanta. She was 85. She will be cremated and a private memorial will be held at a later date. H.M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
After high school, Mrs. Botts earned a degree in drama and speech at UGA, where she was a varsity cheerleader and served as vice president of the Di Gamma Kappa radio fraternity.
She married World War II veteran Robert H. Botts, and the couple settled in Atlanta. He worked for Western Electric. Mrs. Botts stopped pursuing her singing profession when David, her son, was born. She also lost flexibility in her voice.
"She thought her life worked out for the best," said her son, a criminal attorney. "She was probably one of the sweetest and (most) outgoing ladies you'd ever meet. Everybody thought the world of her. She was always very classy."
Mrs. Botts collected antique buttons and owned an inventory of about 4,000, which she shared with schools and youth groups. She helped found Smokerise Baptist Church and was a member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames, Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of the Confederacy.
Her husband of 50 years and a son, Michael Lester Botts, are deceased.
When Mrs. Botts was diagnosed with lung cancer, she leaned on Mrs. Spencer, her friend at Delmar Gardens.
"I tried to be there for her and she allowed me to be there for her," Mrs. Spencer said. "She told me she was ready."
Additional survivors include a sister, Gloria Stipp of Charlotte, N.C.; and two grandchildren.
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