Bettye Jo Wright

Bettye Jo Stevenson-Wright was born in Gene Autry, Oklahoma on August 24, 1934 to Leonard and Lila
Stevenson, who both preceded her in death. Bettye Jo, also known as “BJ”, attended Lincoln High School in Gene Autry. During her high school days, she played point guard for the basketball team that also included some of her sisters. She was also a member of
the 4H-Club. After her graduation in 1953, she moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where she met the love of her life, Ozzie Bill “O.B.” Wright. They would later marry and were blessed with 5 beautiful children.

Bettye was baptized at a very young age. You could say the church house was like a second home to her all of her life. She was a faithful member of Sacred Mission Baptist Church from 1962-1977. While there, she served as the church clerk and on the usher board under the leadership of the Rev. L. O. Williams. When he retired, she joined the Mt. Sinai MBC family under the leadership of Rev. Fate White Jr. While there, she served as the financial secretary, president of the usher ministry, and on the deaconess ministry. She also won the Mt. Sinai 50 th Anniversary Queen Contest. In July 2015, Bettye became a charter member of the Lighthouse MBC under the leadership of Rev. Thomas Shelton. While there Bettye served as a “Mother” and a member of the Women’s Missionary Union. She faithfully served until she could no longer attend. Bettye worked as a receptionist for Jensen Salsbery Laboratory for a few years and she also briefly worked for the Kansas City Life Insurance Company.

While Bettye loved the Lord, her family, and her friends, her special “ministry” was in the kitchen. We did not dine out. Eating home cooked meals was a way of life for our family. Those holiday meals were like banquets fit for a king and she did all the cooking. But those desserts Bettye made were world famous. Everyone loved Bettye’s delicious chocolate cakes, rich brownies, and amazing pies. Bettye received her wings on March 10, 2023. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her siblings, Napoleon Stevenson, Zella Mae Jones, Ponzetta Allen, Warren G. Stevenson, William Stevenson, Otis Stevenson, Neta Randle, Reba Dowdy, her grandsons, Berzillious Shackelford and Allen Rodgers.

Bettye leaves to cherish her memory her children: Wanda Williams (Burnette), Wendell Wright (Tonya), Iva Wright (John), Queen Marcia Wright, Michele Shackelford (Reginald), sisters, Winona Murray, Bennye Fuller, June E. Moody, sister-n law Cleta Stevenson, brother-nephew, Johnny Starr (Clara), 13 grandchildren, 16 great- grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, and a host of nephews, nieces, and other relatives and friends who all loved her dearly and will greatly miss her.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday March 25, 2023 at Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church 3835 Brooklyn Ave.

Visitation will be held from 9 A.M. - 11 A.M.

Services begin at 11 A.M.      Internment : Forest Hill Cemetery