Elizabeth Lamkin Skelton

Sorrells Funeral Home of Enterprise

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Posted by: Sorrells Funeral Home
[email protected]
334-347-9598
Date: Jun 19 2012 2:56 PM

Sorrells Funeral Home

4550 Boll Weevil Circle

Enterprise, Alabama 36330

(334) 347-9598

Elizabeth Lamkin Skelton passed away on Monday, June 18, 2012 at Enterprise Health & Rehabilitation after a long illness.  Mrs. Skelton was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin L. Skelton, her parents, Junius N. Lamkin and Mollie McDonald Lamkin, and her sister, Catherine Lamkin.

Graveside services will be held on Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 11:00 CDT/12:00 EST, at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Dawson, Georgia. The Rev. Lee Jones will officiate. Visitation with friends will be at Sorrells Funeral Home in Enterprise on Wednesday, June 20th, from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke Methodist Church (where Mrs. Skelton was a long time member), 201 Heath Street, Enterprise, Alabama 36330.

Mrs. Skelton (better known to her family, friends and co-workers as Bettie) was born in Waycross, Georgia on August 7, 1923. As a young girl, she loved the outdoors, and a tree was something to climb. Hunting with her father and dogs was more interesting than playing with dolls.  During World War II, Mrs. Skelton worked for the agency which later became the CIA.  She obtained top-secret security clearance, and often served as a special courier for that agency.  On Sunday, March 13, 1952, Bettie married the love of her life, Ed Skelton. He began his career with J.C. Penney Company and she became an executive/legal secretary. Mrs. Skelton was employed with the E.H. Darby Company, which had factories and extensive land holdings in five states. When Ed received his final assignment with J.C. Penney to open their new store in Enterprise, Bettie continued her duties with the Darbys working from her home office. She often stated that she loved the Darbys and considered them family, not employers. Outstanding in her profession, Bettie was named Secretary of the Year on three occasions by the Alabama Secretaries Association.

Ed and Bettie loved ballroom dancing, and became nationally certified ballroom dance instructors after successfully completing a rigorous training program. They taught ballroom dance at Enterprise State Community College (as an adult education program) for many years, and were instrumental in starting the Enterprise Ballroom Dance Club in 1985. That Club has been in existence for more than 26 years, and has held dances at least monthly for that entire time. Bettie remained a member of the Club until her death, even though her declining health precluded her participating in dancing for the last few years. Many people learned the joy of dance through the Skelton’s efforts, and many of their former students are still active in ballroom dance. 

Special thanks are extended to the staff of the Enterprise Health and Rehabilitation Center, Gentiva Hospice and Bettie’s sitters, Wanda Pickren, Michelle Wages and Tonya Bastian for the compassionate care provided by them to Mrs. Skelton.

Sorrells Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements in Enterprise; Harvey Taylor Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements in Dawson.       

To sign a guest register, please visit www.sorrellsfuneralhomes.com

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