Betty Jaynes p2
From 8-9-14
This is the 2nd part of the story about Betty Jaynes. As Betty became more "important" throughout the country, she never forgot those people (& things) which were so close to her heart! With all the responsibilities and influence that Betty had, it would have been easy to leave behind the memories of the past. Betty had a special way of making her high school teachers & friends feel that they were part of her career.
I'm not sure that Betty ever had a special occasion which she didn't offer me an invitation. She would call from time to time, just to talk, when she had an important decision to make. I still treasure the memories of the opportunity to eat with Betty's "special" group at her favorite restaurant. Jan & I were honored, along with her sister, Peggy, to be with 3 of the top "basketball minds" in the country--Betty, Beth Bass, who succeeded Betty as CEO of the WBCA, & Jackie Bradford (who, in my opinion influenced Georgia High School Basketball more than any other one person).
It was a joy for many of us to journey to Milledgeville to see Betty inducted into the Georgia College U. Hall of Fame. Space limits the story of how many honors she received, & the numerous boards on which she served, on behalf of women's basketball. It was an easy choice when she was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall Of Fame in 2000. I'm not sure that I realized the influence that she wielded, and the number of people who held her in high esteem. We were with her in Springfield, Mass., when she was the 2nd woman to be recognized by the National Basketball Hall of Fame by receiving the prestigious James Bunn Award (the other being Pat Summitt). I thought I was in "Basketball Heaven" when all the "greats" in basketball would come into the Hall of Fame, and without exception, would go to Betty Jaynes & give her a hug! I couldn't believe it when two elderly black gentlemen walked in and proved to be Hall of Famers former Globetrotters, Marcus Haynes & "Meadowlark" Lemonds! They came in, & one said to the other, "There's Betty Jaynes! Let's go say hello to her!" It was a very special honor & privilege for me to introduce her when she was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2010, Betty was "roasted" in Covington at the Turner Lake Sports Complex in order to help rebuild her childhood Porter Memorial Gymnasium. Anyone who was "anything" in women's basketball was there! The outpouring of love & support for Betty Jaynes from so many "important" people (Robin Roberts, WSB's Monica Kaufman, UGA's Vince Dooley, legendary Coach Pat Summitt, & most any other important person in women's basketball), and was a fitting tribute to her life contribution to the game of women's basketball! Newton County turned out "en mass" showing their respect & love, for this "little girl" they remembered from a little mill town! The "basketball world" was deeply saddened when Betty Jaynes passed away, after a short illness, in February, 2014! -- Be sure to look here at Darrell Huckaby's poem & article about lifetime friend, Betty Faith Jaynes.
