Dr. Betty Joe March, 79, went from labor to reward Sunday, April 17, 2022, at the Mercy Healthcare Center in Youngstown, Ohio.
Betty was born August 1, 1942 to the union of Mamie (Love) and Harvey Peek, Sr. in Crawfordville, Georgia. To that union, twelve children were born, Betty being the second eldest.
At a young age, her parents moved to Twinsburg, Ohio, and enrolled her in Grange Hall Elementary School. She later graduated from Chamberlin High School.
Her first job after graduating was an office administrator for the Chrysler Credit Union in Twinsburg, Oh. Upon moving to Akron, she was hired at the East Akron Community House serving in the area of outreach and administration. Serving others became a lifelong assignment near and dear to her heart. Her impact and contributions are seen throughout the Akron & Twinsburg, OH communities. She was involved in her neighborhood Block Club, Theatre Club and served on the board of non profit organizations.
Betty was water-baptized in Jesus’ Name and filled with the Holy Ghost in the 60’s at Apostolic Church of Christ, Twinsburg, OH, pastored by the late Elder Nathan & Willie Mae Haynes. She and her sister Mary Frances were one of the first ones saved at that great work. They sang in the choir and participated in ALL church activities. Betty furthered her academic pursuit at the University of Akron, later receiving a post-graduate degree from Malone College and her Doctorate in Business, Christian Education, and Counseling from International Apostolic University of Grace and Truth.
In 1968, she married Herbert S. Robbins and together they reared Karen, Rhonda and Sean until his passing. Betty was determined to expose her children and grandchildren to diversity and culture.
On June 1, 2013, she was joined in Holy Matrimony to Thomas March, Sr. Their marriage is an inspiring love story of care, devotion & support for one another.
Dr. Betty was employed by Goodyear Aerospace (later becoming Lockheed Martin) in Akron, Ohio. She taught at Berean Bible College. Her passion for living for & serving God was relentless. Serving as a Sunday School teacher and later as the Superintendent, she enjoyed imparting God’s Word and principles to all. Dr. Betty led Big God! Big Praise! Ministries, based in Akron, Ohio. She was an avid reader and educator, author of 2 books, was a self-taught pianist – wrote songs and jingles. Writing & singing songs was a gift she shared with many.
During her later years, she made her spiritual home with Covenant Life Fellowship Church with Pastor Eric Diehl, lead Pastor. God had already begun weaving her into the fabric of that ministry.
She was a refined, classy, educated, compassionate, nurturing & loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend! Her greatest desire was to tell everybody of her loving Saviour, Jesus Christ and leaving you with the blessed salutation “I love you, God bless you Ephesians 3:20.”
Dr. Betty March leaves to cherish her memory and continue her legacy: husband, Thomas March, Sr.; Sean (Cheryl) Robbins, Perry Township, OH, daughter in law, Stacy Hairston-Jones Akron, OH; bonus children, Karen Spidell, Waldorf, MD, Lesley (Ron) Womack, Liberty, OH, Thomas (Rosie) March, Jr., Liberty, OH, Stacey Clemons, Earl Clemons & Tara Clemens, all of Youngstown, OH; siblings, Mary Frances (Greg) Smith, Twinsburg, OH, Velma Wilder, Hazel Green, AL, Daisy (Ronald) Walker, Twinsburg, OH, Bridie McMillian, Scottsdale, AZ, Harvey (Sue) Peek, Jr., Hudson, OH, Mary Love Peek, Twinsburg, OH, Ernestine (Terry) Young, Stow, OH, Debbie (Pastor James) Butler, St. Louis, MO, Howard (Tracy) Peek, Twinsburg, OH, Constance (Kenneth) Longmire, Hudson, OH and Lisa Peek, Twinsburg, OH; In-Laws: Earl & Sylvia March, Lima, OH, Ann & Joe Bicker of Peoria, IL, Rufus & Floyd March, both of Peoria, IL, Katy & Billie Wyche of Philadelphia, PA, and Mary March of Liberty, OH; 8 grandchildren: Havilland Jones, Xavier Jones, Eunice Jones, Ronnie Womack, Jahala March, Tameron March, Taedrian March, Zendaya March; 1 great-grandchild and a number of godchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, precious daughter, Rhonda, son in law, Kenny Jones, and first husband, Herbert Robbins.
Friends may call on Friday, April 29, 2022, from 9:00 am until 11:00 am at First Apostolic Faith Church, 790 Easter Ave. Akron, Oh 44307. Funeral service will immediately follow and will be live streamed on First Apostolic Faith Church Facebook page. Interment Lakewood cemetery.