Betty Jean Whitehead Melton

Betty Jean Whitehead Melton, 84, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, July 9, 2026, surrounded by family at her home.

Born May 22, 1942, in Guntersville, Alabama, Betty was a daughter of the late Kenneth Whitehead, Sr. and the late Estelle Mooney Whitehead. She worked for many years as a team truck driver with her husband.

Betty was a devoted member of Parkway Freewill Baptist Church in Boiling Springs, where she dearly loved her church family. Those who knew her from Sunday mornings remember her walking the entire aisle to hug everyone before she ever found her seat. She was an awesome mother and grandmother who adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren above all else. Betty was a great cook, a gifted crafter whose hands were never idle, and she loved to travel and see new places. She cherished her fur babies, Bama and Vickie, as members of the family and she loved Alabama football - Roll Tide!!

She is survived by her son, Jimmy L. Melton; her daughters, Renelle V. Wright, Ladena A. Barry (Clifford), Malinda S. Epling (Ronnie), and Tracy M. Bull (Frankie); and her brother, Kenneth Whitehead, Jr. (Cristina). She is also survived by her grandchildren: Johnny Shuford (Amanda), Allen Wright (Christen), Nicklette Curry, Crystal Marie Ruppe (Mike), Kenneth Epling (Shannon), Kevin Geddes, Frankie Bull III(Christina), Brittney Wilson (Larry), Matthew Bull and Samantha White (Jack) along with 22 great grandchildren and a host of other loving relatives and cherished friends.

In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband, G. C. Melton; daughter, Kimberly J. Geddes; grandson, Keith Geddes; two great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Sue Cantrell and Margaret Lee.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, July 13, 2026, in the Chapel of Eggers Funeral Home, with Rev. Mitch Edge officiating. Interment will follow at Good Shepherd Memorial Park.

Active pallbearers will be Kenneth Epling, Ronald Epling, Mike Ruppe, Clifford Barry, Kevin Geddes, Tameron Laws, and Jimmy Melton.

Visitation will be held from 12;30 PM until 2:00 PM prior to the service on Monday, July 13, 2026, at Eggers Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the General Fund at Parkway Freewill Baptist Church 3615 Parris Bridge Rd. Spartanburg, SC 29316.

The family will be at the home.

As a final farewell, in the words Betty so often shared with her children and grandchildren: "I love you a bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck."