BENNIE BETTS JR.

May 15, 1951 - June 1, 2012

Bennie Houston Betts, Jr., 61, of Kankakee, died Friday, June 1, 2012 at St. James Hospice House in Chicago Heights, IL, Family and friends will gather from 11:30 a.m., Saturday, June 9, 2012 at Lax Mortuary until time of memorial services at 12:00 p.m. Pastor Brad Prairie will officiate. Memorials may be made to the family. Bennie Houston Betts, Jr. was born May 15, 1951 in Kankakee, IL. He was the younger of two children born to Bennie H. and Charmaine Elaine (Callahan) Betts, Sr. He was baptized at Caldwell Chapel AME Zion Church at a young age by Reverend Nathan Richmond. Bennie was a 1969 graduate of Westview High School. He was united in holy matrimony to Evelyn James, September 20, 2008 and one child was born to their union. He was employed at Betts Tavern, working for his father; he also worked for the United States Post Office. A lifelong resident of Kankakee, he enjoyed cars, especially â€Å"Hot Rods,†and the game of football. He leaves to cherish his memory, his devoted wife, Evelyn James-Betts of Kankakee, IL; three sons and one daughter in law, Marcel and Melissa Betts, of Milford, IL, Chris Betts of Long Beach, CA, and Jemome James of Kankakee, IL; three daughters, Tara Betts of Binghamton, NY, Nicole Fulford of Clinton, KY, Kaisha Thompson of Kankakee, IL; two granddaughters, Mikeyla Crumble and Imiani Crumble; three grandsons, Joearie Crumble, Asher Betts and Tobias Betts; one aunt, Doris Ross and one uncle, Vernon Betts, both of Jackson, Michigan; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Delores Davis, of Kankakee, IL, Ella James of St. Paul, MN, Deborah Brent of Bloomington, MN, Kathrine James of Kankakee, IL, Jessie and Bernice James of Albany, GA, Jerry and Marsha James of Forrest, IL and Melvin James of Minneapolis, MN; a play nephew, Leonard Mosbley of Kankakee, IL; a play brother, Bruce Davis of Calhoun, GA; special nieces, Jamyla Radford and Shaquiyah Calmes both of Kankakee, IL and Sanayia Hampton of Bloomington, IL; three special friends, Haywood Booker, Q-Don Brown and Anthony Garner, all of Kankakee, IL; special nurse, Ruth Franzen; special cousin, Glenn Harris of Chicago, IL and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by a son, Houston Lee Betts; his parents, Bennie and Charmaine Betts Sr.; a sister, Audrey Betts; maternal grandparents, Knute and Lillian Lashley Callahan; paternal grandparents, Henry and Bessie Williams Betts; his mother-in-law, Lucy Bee James; two sisters-in-law, Emma Mae Torrey and Campanella James; a brother-in-law, Jimmie Will James; two aunts, Lillian Worlds and Marjorie Overall and four uncles, Herschel Betts, Russell Betts, Vergil Betts and Dr. Lem D. Callahan.