Bettie Ann Lavinia Orme'-Snead

Bettie was a joyous blessing to her parents, Arthur and Mary Orme', on March 13, 1936. The God-centered training of her parents, gave her the skills and tools she needed, to be an asset to all with whom she came in contact. Mommie, Mom Bettie, Grandma Bettie, Sis and intimate friend, as she was lovingly called, started her elementary education in the schools of Accomack County in Accomack, Virginia. Classmates and teaching staff alike enjoyed her intuitive way of making everyone in her reach feel excepted and loved. From Accomack Elementary School, she went on to graduate from Mary Smith High School of Accomack, Virginia in 1953. She attended Baltimore State University in Baltimore, Maryland, where she met and married the father of her children, William Ray, II who preceded her in death. Mommie, Mom Bettie, Grandma Bettie, Sis and intimate friend, as she was lovingly called. Moving to California her jobs included: teacher’s aide, NASA laboratory technician (fitting parts for US spacecrafts and media equipment), partner – cook for the Golden Gate Academy Seventh-day Adventist High School (from which her children graduated), transportation driver for Sussex Correctional Institution, caregiver for Christie Mary Heizler (who, although never attended, because of mommies' witness, loved the Seventh-day Adventist Church), and faithful, devoted caregiver for her dearly departed mother. She was a member of the AME Methodist Church, then joined the Market Street Seventh-day Adventist church in Oakland, California in 1955. After years of service in Market Street, she moved to Delaware where she married Howard W. Snead, Jr. and joined the Mt. Caramel Seventh-day Adventist church, now located in Harrington, Delaware. Because of her desire for service and ministry, when the Mother Church (Mt. Caramel) voted to have a lighthouse in Denton, Maryland she readily excepted the privilege. Her hobbies were reading God's Word and the writings of Ellen G. White, studying about the Sanctuary in Heaven, crocheting, driving, traveling and watching "clean", black-and-white movies. Her heart’s joys were encouraging others in the path of, "you can do it with Gods help...", helping others (even if they didn't think they needed it), and intimate fun times with her family. Mommie was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Orme' and Mary Orme'-Parks; her stepfather, Charles Parks; three sisters, Bertha Orme', Jean Massey, and Pauline Orme' Hubbert and adopted sister, Eddie Bryant. Of the many who are privileged to celebrate her virtuous, self-sacrificing life, are her husband, Howard Snead; her children: William (Linda) Ray, II of Millsboro, Delaware, Angela Orme' Allen of Dover, Delaware, Carlos (Kim) Mark Ray, I of Los Angeles, California, Donna (Ricardo) Brown of Pittsburg, California; step-daughter, Cecily Porter-Ray; brother, Michael Parks and adopted son, Terrence Bryant of Oakland, California; sons-in-law, William Barnes and James Allen, I; grandchildren: Lakisha (Von) Brown-Jarmon, Michael Brown, Carlos Ray, II, James Allen, II, Christie Allen, Danyell Allen, Brianne Weatherly, Anthony Allen and adopted grandson, Vincent Murray; great-grandchildren: La' Rayne Jarmon, Charles Jarmon, Mykah Asonti Brown, Aadyn Ahanu Allen and Mykal Amari Brown; adopted sisters, Vashti Broom, Clarice Pippins and Shirley Conaway; six step-children; and a slew of nieces, nephews, cousin and friends. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bettie Ann Lavinia Orme'-Snead, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Bettie Ann Lavinia Orme'-Snead

March 13, 1936 - February 25, 2014