Betty Schill Rutherford

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Mrs. Betty Jean Schill Rutherford, 90, of Ellison Way, peacefully entered into rest in the arms of Jesus on Friday, December 24, at her residence. Born in Johnson City, TN, Mrs. Rutherford was preceded in death by her husband Andy Mitchell Rutherford; mother, Dicie Caldonia Schill and her father Harry Melvin Schill; sisters Edith, Esther, and Helen and brothers Charles, Volney, Clyde, and Earl. Funeral services including visitation will be held in the Augusta First Church of the Nazarene on Friday December 31. Visitation will begin at 1pm and the service will follow at 2pm. Reverend Andy Rutherford will officiate the service. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park. The service will be live streamed on the Chance & Hydrick Funeral Directors Facebook Page. Pallbearers will be grandsons Kyle Ashford, Zack Ashford, Jonathan Rutherford, Joshua Rutherford, Luke Rutherford, and Stephen Rutherford. Survivors include her sons John (Jacki) Rutherford of Martinez; Wayne (Yvonne) Rutherford of Covington, GA; Jerry Rutherford of Peachtree City, GA; Andy (Gena) Rutherford of Acworth, GA; daughters, Mary Draughon-Garvin (Al) of Winder, GA, and Rebecca (Grady) Ashford of Roxboro, NC; Sister-in-law Ollie Creasy of Appling, GA; nieces Lesia Crawford and Debra Schill of Johnson City, TN and Margaret Kelly, Cherry Valley, CA; nephews Allen Schill, Mocksville NC; John Wyatt, Rio Rancho, NM; Melvin Schill, Oak Ridge, TN; Roger Schill, Mosheim, TN and twelve grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren. She was a long-time Christian since childhood when she accepted Christ in a log cabin church near Elizabethton in the Tennessee mountains which she loved dearly. In her early years, she sang with a group at revivals, at different churches and on a gospel radio show in Johnson City. She effectively shared her faith in Christ by the love she showed to all, big hugs, smiles, her generosity and being a real prayer warrior. She as affectionately called Mom, Granny, Mrs. Betty and the Church Mother by her family, friends and acquaintances. She was a faithful member of Augusta First Church of the Nazarene for almost 65 years and received the Georgia District Church of the Nazarene Distinguished Service Award recognizing her service to the Kingdom of God, the local church and the District. Her greatest pride and joy was her family she raised with her husband and especially the grandchildren and great grandchildren. She gave herself unselfishly to each one in her own unique way, teaching and modeling Christian character and life lessons. She will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her, but she would want each to join her in Heaven by being faithful to Jesus Christ. Memorials may be made to the Augusta First Church of the Nazarene, Missionary Department, P.O. Box 5461, Augusta, GA 30906. Chance & Hydrick Funeral Directors 2502 Richmond Hill Road Augusta, Ga. 30906. Please sign the guestbook at AugustaChronicle.com.

Betty Schill Rutherford

December 29, 2021