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betty mae belt watkins

1909-1991

Life Story

Early Life and Family Roots

Betty Mae Belt was born on August 18, 1909, in Newton, Mississippi, the daughter of Robert Belt, Sr. and Virginia (Berry) Belt. She grew up in Beat 4 of Newton County in a large farming household shaped by faith, hard work, and extended family support.

The 1920 census shows Betty at age ten attending school, though not yet able to write. By 1930, she was recorded as literate, and by 1940 she had completed through the 7th grade—reflecting educational progress that would serve her throughout her life.

She was one of at least ten children born to Robert and Virginia Belt, part of a family deeply rooted in Newton County.

Marriage and Family Life

On March 31, 1928, Betty Mae married Albert Watkins in Newton, Mississippi. Their union lasted more than six decades.

Together, they raised two children:

  • Annie L. Watkins Walker, married to James Walker, Jr.
  • Albert Watkins, Jr., married to Yvonne Watkins

Her marriage marked the beginning of a new chapter that would eventually carry her beyond Mississippi.

Migration and Life in Michigan

Betty’s life reflects the classic pattern of the Great Migration. After living in Newton and later Jackson, Mississippi, she relocated to Flint, Michigan, where she spent the majority of her adult life.

Flint, as an industrial center, offered employment and opportunity for Southern Black families seeking economic stability. Betty became part of that movement, linking the Belt family of Newton County to Michigan’s growing Black community.

She was a devoted member of Vernon Chapel A.M.E. Church in Flint and maintained strong ties within both her church family and the broader community, including connections to Applegate Chevrolet staff and friends.

The Belt Family Network

Betty was the daughter of:

  • Robert Belt, Sr. (d. 1963)
  • Virginia (Berry) Belt (d. 1975)

At the time of her passing in 1991, her surviving siblings included:

Preceding her in death were:

Her family network reflects both continuity in Newton County and migration to Detroit, Flint, California, and beyond.

Grandchildren and Generational Legacy

Betty Mae Watkins left a growing multigenerational legacy.

Grandchildren included:

  • Beatrice Johnson
  • Bettye Paquette
  • Donna Walker
  • Alan Watkins
  • Gerald Watkins
  • Keith Watkins

She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Jamese Ann Walker (d. 1989).

At the time of her death, she was survived by:

  • 10 great-grandchildren
  • 3 great-great-grandchildren

Her legacy extended across four generations.

Death and Burial

Betty Mae (Belt) Watkins passed away on September 16, 1991, at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan, at the age of 82.

Her funeral services were held at Vernon Chapel A.M.E. Church in Flint. She was laid to rest at River Rest Cemetery.

A Life Bridging South and North

Born in the rural South during the early twentieth century and living most of her life in industrial Michigan, Betty Mae Watkins embodied the journey of many Black women of her generation.

She witnessed segregation, migration, industrial growth, civil rights change, and generational expansion. Through marriage, church service, motherhood, and community involvement, she remained a steady presence within both the Belt family legacy and the Flint community.

Her story connects Newton County, Mississippi, to Flint, Michigan—bridging rural Southern roots with Northern opportunity and leaving behind a lineage that continues to grow.

Resting Place

River Rest Cemetery, Flint, Michigan

Photos/Albums

Sources

  • 1910 – 1940 Federal Censuses
  • U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
  • Michigan, U.S., Death Index, 1971-1996
  • U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
  • The Flint Journal, Watkins, Betty Mae Belt Obituary, Thu, Sep 19, 1991 ·Page 37
  • The Newton Record, Virginia Berry Belt Obituary, Wed, Apr 16, 1975 ·Page 8
  • The Newton Record, Robert Belt Obituary, Wed, May 15, 1963 ·Page 9
  • The Newton Record, Julia Belt Chapman Obituary, Wed, Mar 20, 2002 ·Page 13

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