Betty Mahaffey, age 81, passed away on December 24, 2015 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Betty is survived by her husband, John Mahaffey; and their children, John Mahaffey (Sylvia), Ken Mahaffey (Nancy), Katie Roberts (Ian) and Laura Moyer (David); as well as their nine grandchildren, Julia, Daniel, Hannah, Sarah, Caroline, Jake, Kate, Josie and Declan.
Betty was born on March 11, 1934 in Escambia County, Florida. Her parents were Mildred and Leonard Havel of Silverhill, Alabama.
She graduated from City Hospital School of Nursing in Mobile, Alabama and embarked on a successful career as a registered nurse.
During nurse’s training, Betty met a young naval cadet named John Mahaffey and after a three-year courtship, they married on June 30, 1956.
After making homes in California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Northern Virginia, they settled into retirement in Charlottesville, Virginia.
She was friendly, involved and very active in her church, as well as the Fluvanna County Republicans, the Red Hat Society and the DAR.
Betty was devoted to her family, but her second dearest love was the University of Alabama football team.
She never met a stranger, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
A memorial and celebration of her life will be held at Fort Barrancas in Pensacola, Florida on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 10:15 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Betty’s name be made to Fisher House Foundation, P.O. Box 97229, Washington, DC 20077, or fisherhouse.org.
