Elizabeth Jane Lett Adams

Betsy was the daughter of Grace Rayl Lett and Harlon Jerome Lett. She grew up in Jackson, Tennessee and graduated from Jackson Central-Merry High School.  Betsy attended Middle Tennessee State University for 3 years before transferring to Louisiana State University, graduating in 1975 with majors in English and Music. She married Jim Adams after graduating from college and moved to Durham, NC, where Betsy began work as a library assistant at Duke University Medical Center Library. The following year, she began graduate work at The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, earning a Master’s Degree in Library Science. She was promoted to Reference Librarian and served in that role at Duke Medical Center Library for 28 years. After her retirement from Duke, she worked with a Duke professor of Medical History as a research and editorial assistant for articles and books.

Betsy was a cherished friend to many people, a talented organist, a cat & book lover, and most importantly, a devoted mother to Robert Adams, who died of leukemia at age 7.

Betsy returned to Jackson, TN in 2016 where she reconnected with family, friends and her family’s church, First Methodist. She most recently resided at the Maplewood Health Care Center. Her family is especially appreciative of those who spent time with her there during the last months of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Grace and Harlon Lett, and her son Robert Jeffrey Adams.

She is survived by her sister Cathy Lett Loman and husband Jim Loman of Charlottesville, VA, her brother Robert Lett and wife Susan Lett, of Cheyenne, WY, her former husband, Jim Adams, and her nieces and nephews Jules, Matt, & Sophie Loman, and Josh Lett.

A memorial service will be held for Betsy at 10:30 am on Friday, April 25 at First United Methodist Church in Jackson, TN.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, or to the charity of your choice.