Betty Joyce “B.J.” Sidwell Gentry

Published 1:25 pm Thursday, October 23, 2014

TIFTON — Betty Joyce “B.J.” Sidwell Gentry, 80, of Sycamore, formerly of the Waterloo community in Irwin County where she lived for 60 years, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014, at Tift Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Waterloo Baptist Church with Dr. Jeff Pangle, the Rev. Derrell Hampton and the Rev. Preston Mixon officiating. Interment will follow at the church cemetery. Her grandsons will service as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 tonight at the chapel of Albritton Funeral Directors.

Mrs. Gentry was born on Jan. 14, 1934 in Ben Hill County to Edgar Butler Sidwell and Lennie Leona Connell Sidwell, both of whom preceded her in death, along with a brother, Carlton Sidwell, and a sister, Carolyn Foxworthy. She was a very active member of Waterloo Baptist Church, where she served as the Ladies Adult Sunday school teacher for 50 plus years.

Along with her husband, Mrs. Gentry owned and operated BJ’s Market, Deli and Produce for more than 30 years. She loved to sew, cook and garden for her family who were the love of her life. She had served as a former president of the Irwin County Homemaker’s club and was a 1952 graduate of Fitzgerald High School.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Kermit Malcolm Gentry Sr.; a son, Kerry Gentry and his wife, Kathy, of Douglas; daughters Joy Gentry of Ashburn and Fonda Lynn Gentry of Sycamore; a brother, Clay Sidwell of Fitzgerald; grandchildren, Amanda Gentry Vice and David, Kim Gentry Allen and Chancy, Malcolm Aaron Gentry and fiancé Tami Wiggins, Rodney Gentry and Kayla, Tristam Giddens and Tyler Giddens; and great-grandchildren, Nathan Vice, Hannah Vice, Colton Allen, Cameron Gentry and Conner Gentry.

Flowers will be accepted or you may make donations to Waterloo Baptist Church Missions Department, 124 Waterloo Church Lane, Chula, GA 31733.

Albritton Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.