Cover photo for Betty Jo Mask Farris's Obituary
Betty Jo Mask Farris Profile Photo

Betty Jo Mask Farris

November 21, 1934 — July 18, 2023

Leesburg

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 9th 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.

 

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Betty Jo Mask Farris, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, July 21, 2023

10:00 - 10:45 am (Eastern time)

First Methodist Church of Albany, GA

307 Flint Ave, Albany, GA 31701

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Friday, July 21, 2023

Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)

First Methodist Church of Albany, GA

307 Flint Ave, Albany, GA 31701

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 1519

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree