of West Memphis, AR
April 25, 1941 - January 14, 2021
Betty Sue Bigham, 79, of West Memphis, Arkansas, passed away on Thursday, January 14, 2021. She was born April 25, 1941, to Earnest and Bessie Rooks, in McCrory, Arkansas.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her five brothers, J.D., Ed, Franklin, William Earl, and John Wayne; and her two sisters, Francis and Mary. Those left behind to cherish her memory are her two sons, David Bigham, of Southaven, Mississippi and Alan Bigham (Jennifer), of Jonesboro, Arkansas; daughter, Carol Carey (James), of Brentwood, California; seven grandchildren: Christopher, Jamie, Landon, Chase, Ayla, Jenna, and Trevor; and two great grandchildren: Adeline and Jameson; and brother, Bill Rooks (Ronnie), of Gastonia, North Carolina.
Betty was a faithful member at Missouri Street Church of Christ - West Memphis, where she was involved in various ministries and activities. She loved cooking and gardening. Flowers and nature brought her such joy. Betty enjoyed spending time with her family and she will be dearly missed by all of those who knew her.
A visitation will be held at Missouri Street Church of Christ, 1600 N Missouri St, West Memphis, Arkansas, on Sunday, January 17, 2021, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, with a memorial service immediately following. The memorial service will be broadcast live on YouTube (youtube.com/MoStChurch).
In lieu of flowers, the family requests for memorial donations to be made to Children's Homes Inc., 5515 Walcott Rd, Paragould, Arkansas 72450 (childrenshomes.org/donate) or Make-A-Wish Foundation (wish.org/donate).
Missouri Street Church of Christ - West Memphis will be following guidelines issued by the local Department of Health and the CDC regarding COVID-19. Social distancing of at least six feet is recommended for funeral services and all attendees are requested to wear masks.
Did not know until now...
I loved Betty and have beautiful memories going to singles retreats with her. The angels are rejoicing in heaven, and yet know she will be missed by loved ones and friends. Praying now for your comfort!
I will forever miss Ms Betty. She is probably with mom looking for some card playing buddies. I truly miss our Rook playing days. There are so many memories with her. Love and miss you. Christi
Carol , James and the whole family so sorry for your loss let the memories help you through these tough times take care, love and prayers Donna
What a beautiful service. Sorry for your loss. What an inspirational woman and example to all of us.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I will miss Betty very much. Sorry u couldn’t make it to the funeral
Love Joyce
We certainly enjoyed knowing sister Betty. It was always a pleasure to be around her. She was a warm and sweet Christian lady. God’s blessings be upon her and her family.
Our hearts are with you, Carol and James during this difficult time. May you find strength in the knowledge that our prayers include you and your family. With bright light and togetherness today and always.
I’ve known Betty for most of our lives, she was my best friend. We had a lot of fun togather. I know she is up in heaven drinking coffee watching all of us and smiling her beautiful smile. I miss her already , I know you kids do too, she worked hard all her life and she loved you kids, and grat grand babies and great great ones also, when she talked about y’all her face just shined with a big ole smile. You all are in my prayers I am unable to come to visitation or funereal I am having trouble walking and I can’t leave Kerry Ann alone so just know we all loved Betty Sue very very much
Betty will hold a place in my ⤠forever. The first time that I had deer was when she gave me deer sausage. She talked about Alan going deer hunting all the time. She gave me plants when I came to visit her. She knew that I also loved plants I am going to miss talking to her.
Aunt Betty Sue was our favorite aunt. She had such a sweet loving voice. One of her brothers Ed Rooks was our father.
All though it’s been years our family has never forgotten her. We have many pictures of you Carol when you were young at a few family reunions.
When we talk about trips to Arkansas Aunt Betty Sues name always come
up.
Our deepest sympathies to her children and grand children.
With love,
Sue, Vivian, Eddie and Evelyn
Betty was a very sweet and kind lady, we cherish the good memories we had. of her and her family, We Love and miss her. Our prayers go out to her family,
I miss sitting outside with you and our conservations together every day. I fondly remember our times of buying flowers and planting those flowers on our patios. I truly enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune with you and remember our times together. You were a special friend that we will miss dearly.
Don and I were classmates of betty in Mccrory high school . we lived close to each other when our kid were little such wonderful memories! Betty was a great example of a christian .she always was so kind and happy in all her circumstances. I know she is laughing with Jesus today!!!!I know she will be missed so much. all my love to alan ,david,carole.
Dear Carol and James - Audra and I are praying for you and your family during this period of grief. While I never met her, one thing I do know of Betty is the her love for the Lord and that she is dancing with Jesus...and probably also sharing her cinnamon roll recipe with Him!
It’s never easy to put our feelings into words. The people that brought us into the world and those that surround us at various times of lives really do help along in this life. I’m glad you were able to spend some in the end with her. Stay strong. All our best wishes are with you.
I can’t seem to remember a time that our life has not included this precious woman ... Betty was just the essence of God’s love .. always willing to step in and help but never seeking personal recognition. Alan and Dale were joined at the hip as youngsters and where you found one the other was close behind and we wouldn’t have had it any other way. We love you sweet boy. Our hearts are saddened for her family but we rejoice greatly at our Betty’s wonderful victory! Please know our prayers are for your peace Carol, David and Alan she loved all of you so very very much and she was so proud of each of you. ðŸ™â¤ï¸
The Chapple family has many happy memories of Betty and her children spending some holidays with us in Lepanto. Betty was a fine example of what a Christian looked like! She loved God and raised her children to do the same! Prayers of comfort and healing for her loved ones!
“Precious memories! How they linger!â€
I am grateful for many treasured memories with Betty and the family! Alan, I need her lasagna recipe so I can try again!†I love you all! Praying for peace that passes understanding that only comes from HIM!
Ms. Betty has been woven through our family all of my days. I have many fond memories of her. She took me and Shelby to my first musical at the Orpheum. We later went to what we thought was another musical but it was actually a ballet. I remember her coming out to my Pappaw’s garden and picking greens and making us some of her comforting potato soup after my dad died. She will be greatly missed; there is no other like her. Love and prayers to the family.
Mrs. Bigham touched the hearts of the therapy and nursing staff at Ridgecrest during her stay. I will always remember the way she lit up her room with a smile and saying “I missed you!†She was such a sweet soul.
LOVED Ms. Betty. She hosted my showers and shared recipes. She was a great Christian lady, and will be missed.
I have many memories with Ms. Betty, it all started when yall lived with us when u first came to town. Carol was 4 yrs old. We had 10 people in 1 house for a while and through Christmas. We love all of n pray for comfort and for health and safe travels back home.
Dear Jennifer, & Alan, We are so very sorry to hear about Betty. She was a pretty lady, & very sweet always. Please know you all will be in our thoughts, & prayers. Love & hugs to all.
My deepest condolences to Betty's family! Carol, I never had the pleasure of meeting your beautiful mother, but see that she left a beautiful family legacy behind. She is smiling down at you all no doubt. May she be at rest in paradise♡
David,
So sorry for the loss of your mother.
Terri
I can’t remember a time that. Betty wasn’t in my life in some way. She gave me many recipes including those delicious cinnamon rolls. I learned to make them and for a long time when Alan was young they would come over on weekends after I made the rolls and we all gathered around kitchen table eating the cinnamon rolls and playing games. It didn’t matter what game as long as there was a pot of coffee she played. My heart is remaking she was such a great person, a true lady. You all are in my prayers. Love ya
I am sorry. I will help if I can. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Wes
Aunt Betty Sue, may you rest in peace. We find comfort that you are now with all of the family and feel very fortunate that we were able to speak with recently.
Betty was a friend of mine in high school. She was a responsible person who took care of herself. Her father and her brother Bill while finishing high school. I wish I’d spent time with her in the last few years. She was a special person Sending prayers to all her family. Blessings too
Dear,
Carol and family, I sending my sincere condolences. May your beautiful memories sustain you.
So sorry I am unable to attend the service but my thoughts and prayers have been with u all week. Love u, miss u Betty. Judy
Sorry for the loss of your mother. I am praying for you and love you brother.
Miss Betty was a beautiful soul and a mother of my heart. I will remember her for her deep faith in God and her Christ like love towards her family. She always made me feel like a part of her family. She was an example to me by her of strength of character and by her unwavering faith throughout her life.
I will miss Ms. Betty. She was a special lady. Always had a kind word for you and she always led by her christian example. She will be greatly missed.. prayers for the family
Betty was a sweet Christian lady who will be missed. She was a big help to us when my mother was staying with us so my mother could attend a play my daughter was in at Harding Academy Memphis. We hired her to help my mother get ready while I had to work. Prayers for her family and friends.
We cherish our Memories with Betty and Family, all the way back to early 70’s. We love all of you and our heart aches with y’all. She let her light shine bright in this life and now she’s shining in Paradise. May God give strength and comfort.
Betty was a dear friend. We went to church together and worked together at WMC. We had good times with good friends. She was so carrying and always willing to help others. She will be missed greatly. My prayers are with her family. God bless you sweet lady, you have earned your reward.