Her immediate family includes her sister, Teresa Brannen, her daughter and son-in-law, Betty and David Botts, and son, Austin Botts, deceased, Michael Botts, daughter, Alyssa and husband Seth Tomason, and Austin Botts, deceased. Her son ,Carl Sanders Jr, his daughter Caroline Hamburg, His daughter and son-in-law, Keaton and Taylor Martin, his son Carl Sanders III , and 5 great grandchildren. The family would like to thank all of those people who did their best to love her and make her as comfortable as possible. Our thanks to her caregivers and long-term family employees, Margie Simms, Joanne Duffey, Craig Phillips, and Willie Derrico. A private graveside service was held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, June 8th, 2022 at Westover memorial park cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family asks contributions be made to the Georgia Southern University Betty Foy Sanders Scholarship Fund and/or Art Student Travel Fund, Georgia Southern University Foundation, P.O. Box 1107 Statesboro Ga 30459 Attn. Jeff Garland.
Betty Foy Sanders, Statesboro native, artist, philanthropist and former First Lady of Georgia died on Sunday, May 29, 2022 at the age of 95.
According to the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Betty Bird Foy Sanders was born to a farming family in Statesboro on August 6, 1926. She spent a year at the Georgia Teacher's College, and then earned a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Georgia. She met Carl Sanders at UGA, and they married in 1947. They moved to Augusta, Carl Sanders's hometown, where Carl practiced law. When he entered politics, Betty campaigned with him, and they moved to Atlanta when Carl was elected governor in 1962. As the first lady of Georgia, she raised two children, helped develop the new governor's mansion, and entertained many renowned politicians and business leaders.
Betty Foy Sanders was a legend in the Georgia art world, especially in Statesboro, and the Averitt Center for the Arts confirmed that status by naming her the 2015 Legend in the Arts Award Inductee. Sanders joins Emma Kelly, Willie McTell, Michael Braz, Roxie Remley and Delmar Presley as the sixth named Legend. Within the Georgia
community, these men and women are known not only for their amazing artistic abilities, but for their contributions to the area's arts culture.
A lasting tribute to Sanders' steadfast support of Statesboro and Georgia Southern University is the visual arts department that bears her name: The Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art.
Betty Foy Sanders whole-heartedly pursued her interest for student education in the visual arts. During her husband's tenure as governor, her efforts toward the construction of several fine arts buildings and additions for the University System of Georgia were exceptional —including Georgia Southern's Foy Fine Arts Building, named for her father J. P. Foy. Truly student centered, Sanders established
generous academic scholarships, student travel scholarships and opportunities for the art students of Georgia Southern University —including 'the Betty Bus' to transport students to exhibitions, artists' studios and sites for creative inspiration. Through her generosity and model of excellence, Betty Foy Sanders has provided for the next generation of Georgia artists, and has honored Georgia Southern with that responsibility.
"I have always wanted to help students," she said. Sanders views her donations as a way of giving back to the University that has meant so much to her personally.
"There's something about Georgia Southern. This is an opportunity for me to educate, instruct and direct future generations," Betty Foy Sanders said proudly during the dedication of the GS Art Department bearing her name.
"I have never met anyone who could hold a candle to her warmth, graciousness, and sharp mind. Her beautiful and regal physical presence becomes even more enchanting when she begins communicating with her wit, her ability to converse about anything and everything, especially about art," said Dr. Patricia Carter, GS Professor/BFSDoA Department Chair Emerita. "Her genuine interest in others, and her ability to make others feel valuable with her gentle and kind words. Really, she's a legendary human-being, and yet she describes herself as "a country girl from Statesboro, Georgia."
Her immediate family includes her sister, Teresa Brannen, her daughter and son-in-law, Betty and David Botts, and son, Austin Botts, deceased, Michael Botts, daughter, Alyssa and husband Seth Tomason, and Austin Botts, deceased. Her son ,Carl Sanders Jr, his daughter Caroline Hamburg, His daughter and son-in-law, Keaton and Taylor Martin, his son Carl Sanders III , and 5 great grandchildren. The family would like to thank all of those people who did their best to love her and make her as comfortable as possible. Our thanks to her caregivers and long-term family employees, Margie Simms, Joanne Duffey, Craig Phillips, and Willie Derrico. A private graveside service was held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, June 8th, 2022 at Westover memorial park cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family asks contributions be made to the Georgia Southern University Betty Foy Sanders Scholarship Fund and/or Art Student Travel Fund, Georgia Southern University Foundation, P.O. Box 1107 Statesboro Ga 30459 Attn. Jeff Garland.
Betty Foy Sanders, Statesboro native, artist, philanthropist and former First Lady of Georgia died on Sunday, May 29, 2022 at the age of 95.
According to the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Betty Bird Foy Sanders was born to a farming family in Statesboro on August 6, 1926. She spent a year at the Georgia Teacher's College, and then earned a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Georgia. She met Carl Sanders at UGA, and they married in 1947. They moved to Augusta, Carl Sanders's hometown, where Carl practiced law. When he entered politics, Betty campaigned with him, and they moved to Atlanta when Carl was elected governor in 1962. As the first lady of Georgia, she raised two children, helped develop the new governor's mansion, and entertained many renowned politicians and business leaders.
Betty Foy Sanders was a legend in the Georgia art world, especially in Statesboro, and the Averitt Center for the Arts confirmed that status by naming her the 2015 Legend in the Arts Award Inductee. Sanders joins Emma Kelly, Willie McTell, Michael Braz, Roxie Remley and Delmar Presley as the sixth named Legend. Within the Georgia
community, these men and women are known not only for their amazing artistic abilities, but for their contributions to the area's arts culture.
A lasting tribute to Sanders' steadfast support of Statesboro and Georgia Southern University is the visual arts department that bears her name: The Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art.
Betty Foy Sanders whole-heartedly pursued her interest for student education in the visual arts. During her husband's tenure as governor, her efforts toward the construction of several fine arts buildings and additions for the University System of Georgia were exceptional —including Georgia Southern's Foy Fine Arts Building, named for her father J. P. Foy. Truly student centered, Sanders established
generous academic scholarships, student travel scholarships and opportunities for the art students of Georgia Southern University —including 'the Betty Bus' to transport students to exhibitions, artists' studios and sites for creative inspiration. Through her generosity and model of excellence, Betty Foy Sanders has provided for the next generation of Georgia artists, and has honored Georgia Southern with that responsibility.
"I have always wanted to help students," she said. Sanders views her donations as a way of giving back to the University that has meant so much to her personally.
"There's something about Georgia Southern. This is an opportunity for me to educate, instruct and direct future generations," Betty Foy Sanders said proudly during the dedication of the GS Art Department bearing her name.
"I have never met anyone who could hold a candle to her warmth, graciousness, and sharp mind. Her beautiful and regal physical presence becomes even more enchanting when she begins communicating with her wit, her ability to converse about anything and everything, especially about art," said Dr. Patricia Carter, GS Professor/BFSDoA Department Chair Emerita. "Her genuine interest in others, and her ability to make others feel valuable with her gentle and kind words. Really, she's a legendary human-being, and yet she describes herself as "a country girl from Statesboro, Georgia."
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