Betty J Akins Martin

Betty J. Akins Martin, age 83, of Newport, formerly of Tellico Plains, TN, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at Sweetwater Hospital.

She was the 11th child of Bonnie Ida and Payton Lewis, Sr. Betty grew up in Newport, TN. She became a Christian at the age of 11 and joined Greggs Chapel Church. She began teaching sunday school at the age of 16 and became a member of Stokley Chapel Church, where she was a Sunday School teacher, a youth director, the church secretary and treasurer, VBS coordinator, and a member of the Women's Fellowship Circle. She started working at Stokley in Newport where she met and married Elden V. Akins from Tellico Plains. They moved to Tellico and raised their children together. Betty retired from the Monroe Country Board of Education after serving 23 years as the Secretary of Tellico Plains Jr. High School. After her husband's death, Betty returned to Newport to care for her sister, Dorcas Lewis. After her sister's death, Betty continued to live in Newport where she met and married Eugene Martin.

She is preceded in death by her 1st husband, Elden V. Akins; sons, Dennis E. and Verlin "Toby" Akins; her parents, listed above; sisters Maggie J. Lindsey, Dorcas Lewis, Aline Francis and Mildred Proffitt; brothers, Jeff, Deloss, Payton, Jr., John B., and Ernest Lewis; and her grandson, Christopher L. Akins

Her survivors include, her husband,Eugene Martin of Newport, TN; daughters and sons-in-law, Myra M and Michael Bell of Tellico Plains, TN andVeniece "Scottie" and John Daniel "Danny" Frye of Tellico Plains, TN; brother and sister-in-law, William E.E. "Bill" and Jackie Lewis of Tellico Plains, TN; grandchildren,Misti D. and husband, Andrew Shorte and John E. Fryeand a host of many other relatives and friends.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, July 21, 2016 at Myers Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 7:00 p.m., Thursday in Myers Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Carroll Hamilton officiating. Family and friends will assemble at Center Cemetery Friday, July 22, 2016 for the 10:00 a.m., committal service.