Gazelda Annette "Betty" Waters

Augusta, GA – Gazelda Annette “Betty” Waters, age 88, wife of Richard Ronald Waters, Sr, entered into Heaven surrounded by her loving family, Friday, May 23, 2025. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 30, 2025, at 11:00 AM, from the chapel of Chance & Hydrick Funeral Directors with Pastors Mickey and Susan Moss, and Pastor Keith Walton officiating. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Friday, from 10:00 AM until the hour of service at the funeral home. Mrs. Waters was the daughter of the late Margaret Elizabeth Chavous Pike and Burket Lee Pike, Jr. After the passing of her mother, when she was just eight months old, she was lovingly raised by her grandparents, Jim and Katie Chavous. Betty is survived by her husband of 71 years, Richard Ronald Waters, Sr.; her five children, Richard Ronald “Ricky” Waters, Jr (Cindy), Phyllis Ann “Sissy” Vaughn, Margaret Elizabeth “Beth” Harden (Gary), Tamela Lynne “Tammy”. McGahae, and Nathaniel “Scott” Waters (Sybol); 13 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Betty grew up in Augusta, Georgia, and graduated from the Academy of Richmond County. She was a lifelong and devoted member of Barton Chapel Methodist Church, where she served in many roles over the years, including church treasurer, secretary of the women’s group, SRP meeting coordinator, children’s Sunday school teacher, choir member, and Bible study participant. She also attended Bible study classes at the First Church of the Nazarene. Her love for her church and church family was deep and unwavering. A dedicated homemaker, Betty also worked outside the home in several meaningful roles. She served as a school bus coordinator, lunchroom assistant and kindergarten paraprofessional at Augusta Christian School from 1971 until 1987 and also worked as a bookkeeper at her husband's business, Waters and Sons Service Station. Some of Betty’s favorite pastimes included cooking and feeding her family and friends, sewing and quilting for family reunions, shopping, and reading. She especially loved church music and the music of Elvis Presley. Most of all, Betty cherished time at the beach and traveling with her loved ones. Her love for her family was immeasurable and beautifully evident in everything she did. Betty leaves behind a legacy of faith, love, service, and unwavering devotion to her family and community. Her kindness, strength, and joyful spirit will continue to live on through the many lives she touched Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Richard Randall Waters, Jason Nicolas Waters, Donald Eugene Vaughn, Jr, James Woodrow Prather, Wesley Gary Harden, Nathaniel Scott Waters, Jr, Hunter Bryant Johnson, and Israel Paul Osborne. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Augusta First Church of Nazarene Ladies Bible Study Class: Danielle Farrow, Joanne Cushman, Shirley Kirby, Lydia Askew, Bonnie Rowley, Sue Bacino, Nettie Furr, Erica Jividen, Rhonda White, Cindy Waters, Barbara Scott, and Theresa Williams. If so desired memorial contributions may be made to Barton Chapel Methodist Church, 3414 Deans Bridge Rd, Augusta, GA 30906; or to Augusta Christian Schools, 313 Baston Rd, Martinez, GA 30907. Chance & Hydrick Funeral Directors, 2502 Richmond Hill Road, Augusta, GA, 30906. www.chanceandhydrick.com

Gazelda Annette "Betty" Waters

October 20, 1936 - May 23, 2025