LONG – The Rev. Dr. Betty H. Long, 77, of Hampton, Va., passed away April 13, 2022, surrounded by her family.
Dr. Long was born Aug. 27, 1944, to Mose and Myrtle Belle Hutchinson in Woodbine, Ga. In 1969, she met James Long on a blind date, and the two were married for nearly 53 years.
At a young age, she attended Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in Woodbine, Ga. She was an honors student and 1961 graduate of Ralph Johnson Bunche High School in Woodbine, Ga. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in chemistry, she began her career as a researcher at the University of Miami. She later went on to teach for Hampton City Schools for more than 30 years. She taught at Kecoughtan High School, Jefferson Davis Middle School and Hampton High School. Her teaching career was marked with a number of accomplishments, including being recognized as Outstanding High School Chemistry Teacher of the Year for Hampton Roads and Hampton Roads Chapter of the American Chemical Society Outstanding Teacher Award in 1998, Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers, and teacher adviser for one of the world’s largest flying paper airplanes that hung in the Virginia Air & Space Science Center. In addition to her career with Hampton City Schools, Dr. Long also taught chemistry at William & Mary and Hampton University.
God and family were above all else to Dr. Long. After receiving Masters of Divinity from Virginia Union and doctorate in spiritual renewal and organizational leadership from Regent University, she went on to become an ordained minister and an active servant for the Lord at First Baptist Church of Hampton. She served on a number of different ministries, including youth minister, Sunday School teacher, Women’s Auxiliary, youth mission leader to Haiti and interim pastor.
After retiring from the school system, Dr. Long dedicated her work to the Lord full time through her leadership and participation in church, civic groups and community organizations. She was an active lifetime member and officer in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc; chaplain for the Hampton City Police Department; first vice president of American Baptist Churches of the South and a leader of Jobs For Life.
Dr. Long was a published author, using her writing skills to spread the gospel and inspire others to develop a relationship with God. She published a sermon in the 2000 fall issue of the African-American Pulpit titled, “Seeing Jesus in the Midst of a Storm,” and she was a contributing author in the book, “Women at the Well: Meditation for Quenching Thirst,” both published by Judson Press. Additionally, she published the following books: “Issues of the Heart,” “Experiencing the Kingdom of God” by Westbow Press and “Issues of the Heart, Experiencing the Kingdom of God” (second edition) and “Reclaiming Our Youth: Paradigm Shift: A Family-Based Youth Ministry Model,” both published by Stratton Press.
Dr. Long was predeceased by her parents, brothers, Jenkins Baker, Sylvester Baker and Johnny Bee; and sister, Rosa Lee Miller.
She is survived by her husband, James; two children, Felicia and Fonya; sister, Alice Postell; and granddaughter, Makayla.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Dr. Long’s name to the American Cancer Society. A wake was 6 p.m. Friday, April 22, 2022, at Cooke Brothers Funeral Home. Graveside funeral service were 11 a.m. Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Hampton Memorial Gardens.