Obituary of Bettye Phillips Byron

Bettye "BJ" Byron of Cocoa Beach died on Tuesday, March 29, 2011. She was 77. Cause of death was cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Born and raised in Nashville, BJ held a degree in chemistry from Peabody College (now part of Vanderbilt University), and later earned a masters degree in gifted education at George Mason University. A life member of the National Education Association, she was a grade school teacher in Cocoa Beach and taught high-school science in the Washington DC area. She also worked on Boeing space programs and designed curriculum for the Saudi Navy Expansion Program. A lifelong Democrat, she worked in the 2000 Al Gore campaign at his Nashville headquarters and attended the 2004 National Democratic Convention. While living in the French Quarter in New Orleans she was a princess in the Krewe of Iris. She also lived in Pensacola, Seattle, San Diego, and Arlington VA. Following her husband John's submarine around the world, she visited Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan. Later she made trips to London and Paris with her granddaughters Kelsea and Lindsay and their mother Susan. She enjoyed antiques and fine art, supported the National Symphony Orchestra for years, and was a 1991 graduate of Leadership Brevard and a member of the Eau Gallie Yacht Club. She was past president of the Submarine Officers Wives Club in San Diego and the Navy Wives Club here. BJ's first marriage to the late Robert Hemings ended in divorce. She was married to John Byron for the last 37 years of her life. BJ leaves two children, Rosemary Hemings of Carmel CA and Emerson Hemings of New Smyrna Beach. She also leaves three step-children, Julie Shively, Justina Byron, and Joseph Byron, all of Denver, and a total of 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her parents Ila and Ben Phillips and her younger sister Barbara Bebout died earlier. She will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Per her wishes there will be no local service.