Betty Ray Brown Bancroft

Betty Ray Brown Bancroft 84, of Gainesville, Georgia passed peacefully on August 13, 2022. Betty was born on March 20, 1938 in Logan, Alabama. Betty was delivered by a country doctor to Ray and Mavis Brown at their family home. She graduated from Fairview High School where her father was principal. Betty then attended Sacred Heart Catholic School for two years, and graduated from Montevallo College with a BS in social work.

Her plans of a career in social work were happily interrupted when she then met the love of her life Dr. Charles Bancroft. After a romantic whirlwind courtship Betty and Chuck, who was then a minor league baseball player in the Detroit Tigers Organization married on June 15, 1958 in the Fairview Methodist Church in Cullman County, Alabama.

A major change in lifestyle occurred when she became a pastor's wife after Chuck responded to his call to the ministry. She continued her spiritual faithfulness as a secretary for Saint Mark Methodist in Atlanta, Ga. and later as Secretary to the District Superintendent of the Methodist Church in Gainesville Ga. Betty also was a partner / operator of Dot's Fabrics in Gainesville where she was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of being a business owner.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Mavis Brown, and her granddaughter, Kayla Dela Pena. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Charles Victor Bancroft, her daughter, Joan Leigh Bancroft, and son, Charles Victor Bancroft II and brother Bill Brown.

Spouses and Grandchildren: Cricket Bancroft (Vic’s wife) , her grandchildren, Ellie, Charlie and Isabel Bancroft, Porter “Len " Fleming (Joan’s husband) and Michell Brown (wife of Bill Brown.)

Services will be on August 26th at 11:00 AM EST in the Chapel of Gainesville First United Methodist Church, 2780 Thompson Bridge Rd, Gainesville GA 30506, with a Celebration of Life following the service

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Memorial Fund at the First United Methodist Church of Gainesville Ga. The service will be live streamed for those that cannot make the service.

Those who would like to send the family online condolences please do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Georgia 30501 is in charge of arrangements.