Bettie Joe Sandlin

Bettie Sandlin loved the Lord and her family. Precious daughter of God and devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She passed away peacefully on December 3, 2024, after a three-month battle with a broken ankle and progressive dementia.  

Bettie was born on October 28, 1927, in Mansfield, Louisiana, the fifth of eight children of George F. and Hattie Odom Cox (deceased). She is survived by two sisters, Lillie Pearl Stokely, and Media Ann Smith (Richard), and has now reunited with Johnnie Belle Kelley, Artis Cox, Jeff Cox, Ray Cox, and Martha Jane Marcus. Bettie married Frederick "Freddy" A. Phillips (deceased) on July 2, 1947, and they began a family in Bossier City, Louisiana, where they built a church; he, the gifted pastor-worship leader, and she, the talented pianist and choir director. Three children survive them: James A. Phillips (Ann), Jerra Lynn Dooley (Randy), and Aubrey M. Phillips (Leighanne); four grandchildren, Betsy Burns (John), Dacia Gulledge (Chace), Allan Phillips (Jenny), and Abby Dixon (Paul), and eight great-grandchildren Josie and Wyatt Burns; Aiden and Liam Phillips; Henry, Jacob and Evelyn Dixon; and Hunter Gulledge, all of whom reflect many excellent traits inherited from their grandma BJ. Unfortunately, the marriage ended in 1968, but Bettie remained a faithful single parent to her children, often working two or more jobs to provide for them. In 1974, she married Albert L. Sandlin, Mobile, Alabama, with whom she enjoyed twenty wonderful years before his death in 1993. As a widow, Bettie continued serving the Lord as a charter member and trustee for East Pointe Baptist Church, Spanish Fort, Alabama, Dr. Rob Burns. In 2011, she moved to Alabaster, Alabama, to be closer to her daughter. 

Bettie lived her life with the deep conviction that “a wasteful hand makes a woeful want,” which led to a productive life. She has worked a million hours at a sewing machine and was a master seamstress before graduating high school. Her daughter says she was unaware you could buy pre-made dresses until she became a teen. Bettie began quilting later in life and has given hundreds of quilts away to family, friends, and new church members at Journey Baptist Church, Alabaster, Alabama, where she was again a charter member under Pastor Paul Armstrong.  

Bettie was also a good financial manager and a great organizer of people. About ten years ago, she started the Butterfly Ladies Bible Study in her home, with 12-25 ladies attending weekly. Since her recent illness, this group continues to meet at Westwood Baptist Church, Alabaster, Alabama, where a chair is reserved in her memory. 

Bettie lived to see her 97th birthday and has experienced God's goodness throughout her life. She would want you to know that she is now surrounded by grace, joy, and love and that she would like to see you on the other side of the river of life. This means that you, too, need to be found in Christ when your final breath comes. "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God" (Holy Bible New Living Translation, 1996/2015, John 1:12).

Finally, an obituary of this length can hardly reveal the magnitude of accomplishment a person experiences over 97 years of living. Bettie Sandlin was many things to many people. As her children, our hearts are full of the beautiful sentiments shared by so many friends who all loved and adored her. Thank you for letting us share her with you.

A private funeral service will be held at Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Daphne, Alabama, on December 13, officiated by Dr. Rob Burns, followed by interment at Mobile Memorial Gardens Cemetery. No flowers, please. Instead, consider donating to Bettie's church in her memory: Journey Baptist Church, 100 Aviators View Drive, Alabaster, AL 35007.