3/20/20
Betty Jo Cochran Ridley Hall, age 78, of Clarkesville, passed away on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
Born on September 30, 1941, in Griffin, she was a daughter of the late Dr. H.L. and Marjorie Mitchell Cochran. Mrs. Hall attended Wesleyan College and went on to receive her Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree from the University of Georgia. After graduating, she began teaching at Georgia Tech, DeKalb County Schools, and then, North Georgia Technical College. Mrs. Hall was a member of Cornelia United Methodist Church where she was active in the Friendship Sunday School Class. She enjoyed singing and showed her love of music by being a member of the Chancel Choir and Piedmont Choral and a former member of Mountain Voices. Not only did she enjoy singing, but she took pride in being a mother and was a member of the Georgia Mother’s Association and American Mother’s Association. She received the Mother of the Year Award from the State of Georgia in 2000. Mrs. Hall enjoyed being active and showed that activeness through her memberships with Joyful Hearts, Three Arts Club, Jenny Wade Circle, Soque Garden Club, Batesville Women’s Breakfast Club, and Greater Atlanta Kappa Delta Sorority.
In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her first husband, Lt. Col. (Ret.) William Edward “Bill” Ridley, Jr.
Survivors include her second husband, Charles Hamilton Hall; son, Stephen William Ridley of Lilburn, and Eleanor Lassiter of Lawrenceville; daughter and son-in-law, Katherine Ridley Morris and Michael of Edmond, OK; grandchildren: William Ridley of Lilburn, Thomas Ridley of Lilburn, Lauren Morris of Edmond, OK, and Rachel Morris of Edmond, OK; sister and brother-in-law, Lynn Cochran Thompson and Gerry of The Villages, FL; nephew, Jeff Thompson of Charlotte, NC; niece, Susan Thompson of Washburn, NC; Bill’s nephews: Gene Jones, Mitchell Jones, and Mark Jones all of Griffin, Eddie Jones of Newberry, SC, and Jeff Jones; Charles’ children and their spouses: Wendee and Sean Sullivan of Carlsbad, CA and Todd and Laura Hall of Braselton; Charles’ grandchildren: Ashlee, Alex, and Mindy; and several cousins in Texas.
A private family visitation will be held at the funeral home with a graveside service to be held at Oak Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery in Decatur, Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cornelia United Methodist Church, 275 Wyly Street, Cornelia, Georgia 30531 or to Oak Grove United Methodist Church, 1722 Oak Grove Road, Decatur, Georgia 30033.
Memories, comments, questions or photos may be sent to dukeriddler@gmail.com
Also, an online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.
MCGAHEE-GRIFFIN & STEWART FUNERAL HOME OF CORNELIA, GEORGIA (706-778-8668) IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
There are times like this that it’s difficult to put in words your love, admiration, special bond that Betty had within our unique family unit, but it was such a gift for each one of us.
From day one when Betty was introduced to our family, we became a family in the deepest sense. This was largely because Betty loved people and family was so important and natural to her. John and I had so many fun and sweet times sharing our grandparent roles with Ashlee. The four of us always wanted each other to be there for each milestone. I can remember our first Halloween and we all went to Jefferson to go Trick or Treat with Ashlee and Betty and I both showed up with our witches hats. Of course Betty won that costume contest that night because she had a complete outfit including a cape!!! We shared many more special moments as proud grandparents as field day, recitals, Thanksgivings, Christmases, and our favorite, Halloween as well as Book Fairs and just hanging out. She taught Ashlee how to read books under the covers with a flashlight when lights were out and well past her bedtime.
Betty was raised to become a true southern lady with all the socials graces that only us females were privileged to be raised southern would understand. Being an educator with the love of books, learning, teaching, children, travel, being creative, gardening was like we were all raised by the same parents. I can remember a Fall cookout we had at our cabin and she met my sister for the first time and they became best friends instantly. That was Betty. She had that gift and an open heart in let people in her life’s circle. She and Charles shared with John and I many other moments together. I can remember their first Thanksgiving together they graciously invited John and I to her (and Bill’s) beautiful mountain home with that million dollar view. We all shared a wonderful meal and got the honor of meeting her son and family as well as her two best girlfriends. I always called the three friends “triple Bs” or “B cubed”. We were also privileged to have been there in some of the other milestones as when Betty had surgery and I could help Betty while John took care of Charles as well as when the daunting task of packing and moving them from her beloved mountain home with its beautiful gardens that she and Bill so loved. I am so sorry to say that after Betty got so sick, which left all of you children the hard decision to separate she and Charles so they each could get the care they needed, was very hard to on us all as unimaginable for the two of them. It was during that time you saw the love that they had for each other.
Thank you Betty for the wonderful memories by just knowing you, sharing family times and most of all in those still, quiet times we know we had a special friendship. Thank you for loving Charles, my children and grandchildren. You will always have a special love and place in our hearts.