Betty Ann "Bootsie" Jackson Cummings

Betty Ann "Bootsie" Jackson Cummings, age 60, passed away on Friday, January 17th at Biloxi Regional Medical Center due to complications from pneumonia. Betty Ann was born in Greenwood, Mississippi on November 14, 1953. Betty Ann grew up in Moorhead, Mississippi and resided in the Latimer community for the last 30 years of her life. Betty Ann attended Ruleville High School, Mississippi Delta Community College, and received her undergraduate degree in Education from Mississippi State University. She received her Masters degree in Education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1976. Betty started her teaching career at Bayou Academy in Skene, Mississippi. She next taught at North Forrest Middle School and finally began teaching in the Harrison school system, first at North Gulfport Middle School and finally at the Love of her Life d'Iberville Middle School. During her extended teaching career, Betty touched so many lives. Her impact went beyond just the educational needs of her students, she touched their personal lives as well. During her career at d'Iberville Middle School, she was the "rock." She could be depended on to handle any and every task asked of her. One of the happiest times in her educational career was when she was asked to coach the Junior High girls basketball team. She coached the team to winning seasons every year. She also did anything and everything that was asked of her, and always with a smile and a joke. In 1977 she married the love of her life Stanley "Butch" Cummings. They met at Mississippi State University and if it was not love at first sight it was near it. Their marriage of 36 years produced one son Stanley "Kyle" Cummings. Betty loved her husband and her son and spent the better part of her life making them happier. She was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend to all. She loved flowers, gardening, and cooking. She loved animals especially her 3 bassett hounds Merle, M.J., and Izzy. Her cat, Ms. Kitty had a special part in her heart as well. Betty loved people and she never met a stranger. People who met her for the first time were immediately drawn to her. She loved life and always found the best in people. She will be truly missed by all. She was preceded in death by her father, William Locke "Bubber" Jackson Jr.; her mother-in-law, Ila Orrell Cummings; her sister, Jacqueline Frances Jackson; and her special aunt, Margaret "Da Da" Jackson. Betty Ann is survived by her husband of 36 years, Stanley "Butch" Cummings; and her son, Stanley "Kyle" Cummings. She is also survived by her mother, Mary Boozer Jackson of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; her siblings and their spouses, sister, Mary Margaret Little and husband Johnny, and their children, Scott Little (Gail) and Rachel Marquez (Victor), all of Deer Park, Texas; sister, Sally Dodd and husband Ronny, and their children, Lee Dodd (Kim) and Clay Dodd (Shana), all of Brandon, Mississippi; sister, Susan Jackson Longacre and husband Chuck of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; brother, William Locke "Bill" Jackson III (Janet) of Humble, Texas and his children, William Locke Jackson IV and Mary Jacqueline Jackson; sister, Cathy Jo Jackson of Greensboro, North Carolina; her father-in-law, Avery "Bill" Cummings; brother-in-law, Henry "Hank" Cummings, and his children, Morgan Cummings Markos (Adam) and Avery Cummings; sister-in-law, Suzanne "Suzy" Humphrey and husband Kenneth, and their children, Amy Humphrey Gibson (John) and Ethan Humphrey. She is also survived by her many great nieces and nephews, Shelby and Savannah Little, Tristan and Dustin Smith; Bryce, Britton, Parker, and Cooper Marquez and soon to be born Molly; Milla and Maylee Dodd, and Erica Withers; and Wyatt Gibson; and her aunt, Jean Rogers of Pensacola, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to d'Iberville Middle School in memory of Betty Ann Cummings. Contributions can be mailed to d'Iberville Middle School, 3320 Warrior Drive, d'Iberville, MS 39540. Funeral services will be held at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home on Saturday, January 25th at 1 p.m., where friends may visit two hours prior to the service. Burial will be at Bethel Hill Church cemetery immediately following the service. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com