Obituary of Betty Jo Mahaffey Reepe

Betty Jo Mahaffey Reepe - July 8, 1935-November 25, 2013 The daughter of Vera and Jewel Mahaffey, Betty Jo was born and raised in Lawrenceville, but moved to Buford in 1953. Betty Jo was preceded in death by her husband, James (J.J), her son, Stephen (Stevie), her granddaughter, Jessica, her parents, and her siblings, J.W., Evelyn, Ruby, and Robert. She is survived by her children - Joe (Joey) and Nahoko Reepe and their son Y.J.; Robin Reepe and Mike Gower of Buford and their son, Tommy and Savannah Gower of Oakwood, granddaughter Chloe Reepe and her mother Lisa Kaiser of Ottawa, Canada; her sisters - Katherine Etheridge of Woodstock, Becky and James Watson of Waco, and Liz and Kenneth Bagwell of Lawrenceville; sisters-in-law - Donnie Jean Pugh and Geraldine Cates of Buford; niece - Amy Cates and Carson Smith and girls - Avery, Anna Cate, and Lily; nephew - Brian and Susan Mahaffey and their son, Parker, other nieces and nephews, and a host of friends. A graduate of Lawrenceville High School, she moved to Buford after marrying the love of her life, James Reepe in 1953. Betty Jo was an active member of the community, working alongside James in children's sports programs, serving as PTA president, and attending church. She served as the clerk of the court of the City of Buford in the 1960's and worked for the Gwinnett County government in both the recorders court and magistrate court. She also worked for the Home Weekly newspaper as a bookkeeper and writer of the Buford news column. Betty Jo was an active member of Buford First Baptist Church, where she has served as a WMU leader, a Sunday School secretary, and the nursery coordinator. She was currently a member of the Upper Room Sunday School Class and the Silvertones Choir. A wife, a sister, a mother, and a friend, Betty Jo lived her life serving others. She sent cards, cooked meals, babysat children, sewed, made gifts - anything she could do to help others. She was quick to welcome visitors to church or to speak to strangers in the mall. Her children said they got their love of reading from their father, but they learned to be a kind and caring person from their mother. Visitation will be at Hamilton Mill Memorial Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 26 from 2:00-8:00. A celebration of Betty Jo's life will be held on Wednesday, November 27 at 11:00 in the sanctuary of Buford, First Baptist Church.