Betty Jo Mask Farris

Betty “Jo” Mask Farris, 88, of Leesburg, GA passed away on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at her residence. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 21, 2023 at 10:00 AM, with her funeral service at 11:00 AM in the main sanctuary at First Methodist Church, 307 Flint Avenue Albany, GA 31701. Burial at Leesburg cemetery will be conducted immediately following the service. Rev. Jim Morrow will officiate.

Jo was born on November 21, 1934 in Brooks, GA (Fayette County), to the late Robert and Gertrude Mask. Mrs. Farris graduated Fayette County High School in 1952 and graduated from Bessie Tift College in Forsyth, GA, with a degree in Education. Her first job was in Newnan, GA and then she moved to Albany, GA where she taught 9^th Grade English at Albany Junior High School before adding certification for library media. She was the media specialist at Highland Elementary and continued when it became a Middle School. She loved her job and loved mentoring students.  She was firm but kind. She believed in student accountability! She retired in July, 1994 after 33 years of service in the state of Georgia.

Jo was a long-time member of the Albany YMCA and she had a passion for exercise, especially jogging and bicycling. She was a member of First United Methodist Church. She and her husband Richard were involved in the flower ministry, taking flowers to the sick members of the congregation. In later years, she was unable to attend but had a strong love of the Lord.

She suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease but fought valiantly every day to carry on with her daily activities. She recalled numerous humorous stories from her past that gave her great comfort and entertainment.

Jo is preceded in death by her husband Richard Farris, her parents, Robert and Gertrude Mask, her brother John Mask, her sisters Dorothy Lindsey Lamb and Belle Bennett, her niece Alicia Jones, and nephews Richard Lawson, Bruce Lindsey, and Jimmy Lindsey.

Survivors include her daughter Ruth Farris Rhames (Chris) of Poulan, Georgia, granddaughters Camille Rhames of Tifton, Georgia and Robyn Rhames of Valdosta, Georgia, her sister Carmen (Clyde) Barbee of Dublin, Georgia, her sister-in-law Jane Mask of Fayetteville, Georgia, her loving caregivers Eva Raddar and Sherry Carter of Baconton, Georgia, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Those desiring may make contributions in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Time-Out Program (ACTO), 229 N. Jackson Street, Albany, Georgia 31701; First Methodist Church, 306 Flint Avenue, Albany, Georgia 31701; or Pinson Methodist Church, 109 E. Pope Street, Sylvester, Georgia 31791.