Betty Kathleen Skipper

April 9, 1956 - October 30, 2021

Betty Kathleen Skipper, age 65 of Conyers, Georgia, November passed away on Saturday, October 30, 2021. And although her husband, Don’s, death in 2017 was a deep loss, her friendship with his sons, Richard and Jonathan, and her relationship with their children, as well as with Ryan and Stephanie and their children, was a joy and comfort to her. Kathy was always there to support her friends and family during their struggles and to celebrate their triumphs. Kathy is survived by her sister, Jerri Ann Peacock (Clay) Hays. Jerri’s children, Stephanie Marie Finnell with spouse James(JT); and granddaughter, Malory Mae, all of Covington, GA.; Ryan Mayo and his wife Britni and their children, Emerson Marie Mayo, Arleigh Ryann Mayo, and Adler Orien Mayo, all from Fernandina Beach, FL.; Kathy is also survived by her stepsons, Richard Hardin Skipper; his children, Richard Hardin Skipper II and Joseph McLeod Skipper of Marietta, GA., and Jonathan Grainger Skipper and his children, Lily Alexandria Skipper, Luke Grainger Skipper, and Locklyn Littlepage Skipper of Wilmington. Betty Kathleen Skipper was born April 9, 1956 to loving parents, John and Addie Peacock in East Point, Georgia. She had one sister, Jerri, four years her junior. Devotion to family and friends, to finding precious moments with the people and animals she loved, would become the guiding principle of Kathy’s life. Kathy held a BA in human resources management from St. Leo University, a Master’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland and an MBA from Southwestern University. Kathy spent the bulk of her career with the federal government, which included 10 years with the Department of Defense at the Pentagon and at Fort Meade, Maryland, culminating as Chief of Media Relations, First US Army, and Fort Meade. She spent four years each with the US Small Business Administration and with the Forest Service. Kathy took a five-year hiatus from the federal government to work in the private sector with Rollins-Orkin at National Technical Manager and Director of Policy and Training for nearly six years. Kathy returned to the federal government and spent a total of 14 years with the Centers for Disease Control in a variety of director-level positions having to do with strategic health communications, policy and partnerships. Kathy’s last years of work was for Georgia Yard Barns as a sales office manager of the Snellville lot. She officially retired in April 2019. It was during this time that Kathy did the most meaningful work of her life. She was involved in a broad array of projects, including: the World Trade Center Health Registry in 2003-2004; communications about TCE (trichloroethylene) at Camp LeJeune, NC; and, communications about the CDCs Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. Kathy also served on the board of directors for St. Jude’s Recovery Centers and for Medical Research Charities. Remarkably, Kathy also found time to complete an MBA at Southwestern College. Kathy was also a member of the First Baptist Church of Conyers. Despite her impressive professional accomplishments, what brought Kathy the most pride and joy was her relationships with her family and friends. Throughout her life, Kathy’s bond with her mother, Addie, and her sister, Jerri, remained tight. The three of them shared a profound love for animals, and all three were involved with RescueCats. Kathy and Jerri continued with RescueCats even after Addie’s passing in 2018. The Memorial Service to Honor and Celebrate the Life of Betty Kathleen Skipper will be held on Saturday, November 20, 2021 at 2:00 PM Tom M. Wages Snellville Chapel, Snellville, Georgia. Pastor Butch Davis will officiate the service. The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 20, 2021 at 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at the Tom M. Wages Snellville Chapel. There will be a reception at Wages Funeral Home immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to RescueCats at www.rescuecats.org. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, A Family Company, 3705 Highway 78 West, Snellville, GA 30039 (770-979-3200) has been entrusted with the arrangements.