Betty Rushing

Born in Texarkana on Nov. 28, 1929, Betty Ray Rushing was attractive, smart, funny, athletic, and strong willed with a zest for life. She passed away peacefully on May 29, 2021.

As a young woman, Betty attended Hendrix College for two years, then transferred to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Once there, she pledged Chi Omega and was active in her sorority making numerous lifelong friends. An outstanding golfer, Betty played on the men’s team at Hendrix and, eventually, became the Arkansas Women’s Golf Champion.

After college, Betty went to graduate school in social work in Texas, earning her MSW. Capping her long professional career as a social worker, Ms. Rushing was head of Hope Cottage in Dallas for 20 years. She then retired, moved to Hot Springs in the early 1990s and renewed old friendships and built many more.  In her later years, with a drink in one hand, a cigarette in the other, her friends found Betty a wonderful companion ready to talk and laugh long into the night.

Ms. Rushing’s parents were Emma Lou and Nolan Rushing. She is survived by: her younger brother, Nolan Rushing (Barbi); her niece, Rhea Rushing Frans ( Kyle) of OKC; and  her  3 great-nieces, Madelyn, Charlotte and Penelope Frans of OKC.

Ms. Rushing will be buried in a private service at Roselawn Cemetery in Little Rock on Saturday, June 5. Please give memorials to First Tee of Little Rock or the Pulaski County Humane Society.