Betty Jane Lenn

Harpersville

Betty Jane Lenn, age 89, of Harpersville, passed away on Jan. 8, 2013, at her residence.

Visitation will be on Jan. 12 from noon-2 p.m. with service following at 2 p.m. at First Assembly of God, Sylacauga, with Rev. Charles Lenn and family officiating. Burial will be held in Greenhill Memorial Gardens.

She was preceded in death by husband, Winfred Bernard Lenn; parents, Jack and Goldie Dilger; sister, Inez Dilger Martin; brother, Warren Bud Dilger; son-in-law, Gary R. Holcombe; and son-in-law, Steven H. Lambert.

Survivors include her six children, Brenda Joyce Holcombe, John Winfred Lenn (Kay), Georganna Ritch (Mack), Charles Lenn (Brenda), Ruth Lambert and Rebecca Salsman (Buddy); 17 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren with two on the way; and four great-great-grandchildren with one on the way.

Mrs. Lenn and her late husband, Winfred B. Lenn, founded New Life Assembly of God in Pell City. They also served as pastors of Clanton First Assembly of God, Wildwood Chapel in Columbiana and Radiant Life Assembly of God in Childersburg. She grew up in Evansville, Ind., where she became an accomplished swimmer/diver under the tutelage of her aunt, Ellen Jean Dilger, at the local YWCA. She would use these skills in serving twenty-seven years as the girls lifeguard for the Alabama Assemblies of God summer youth camps. Mrs. Lenn, affectionately called “Mama Lenn,” helped many of the young campers in their commitment to Christ, their discovery of God’s call upon their lives and receiving the infilling of the Holy Spirit in their spiritual experiences. Her love and passion to minister to others created a treasury of shared memories for so many throughout the state.

Pallbearers include her sons, John Winfred Lenn and Rev. Charles Lenn; grandsons, Darrell Holcombe, Darion Holcombe, Eric Lenn, Jason Lenn, Steven Lambert and Taylor Lambert.

Honorary pallbearers include her daughters, Brenda Joyce Lenn Holcombe, Georganna Lenn Ritch, Ruth Ellen Lenn Lambert and Rebecca Irene Lenn Salsman; granddaughters, Tina Darlene Holcombe, Stephanie Lenn Wade, Sharon Renee Ritch Bice, Stacey Rae Ritch Aderholt, Shellie Ruth Ritch, Kelley Lenn Yedell, Crystal Lambert Mason, Erica Salsman, Lindsey Salsman Johns, Sara Salsman and Hannah Salsman.

In lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations can be made to the Alabama Youth Camp scholarship fund in her name, Betty Lenn. This fund enables students to attend summer camps that otherwise could not. Donations can be mailed to Alabama Youth Ministries, P. O. Box 235014, Montgomery, AL 36123. Online donations can also be made at: ADCAG.org/give.

Online memorials may be made at Curtisandsonfunerals.com. Curtis and Son Funeral Home Childersburg Chapel will direct the services.