Paris, Betty Lee Dryden

November 29, 1933 - October 19, 2024

“Betty’s Story” Betty Lee Dryden Paris was born in the original hospital of the Delaware Division in Wilmington, Delaware on November 29, 1933. It was in this same hospital that she passed away peacefully. She was the loving daughter of Rudolph E. and Clara Lee (Stevens) Dryden. She was their third of six children. They lived in Minquadale where she attended Minquadale Elementary School. After the passing of her grandfather, Daniel Stevens, her family moved to 609 East 22nd Street in Wilmington to care for grandmother, Margaret Jane “Maggie” Collins Stevens. Betty went to George Gray Elementary School, Warner Jr. High (where she was Vice President of the Student Body) and then to P.S. Dupont High School. She worshipped at Grace Baptist Church on Vandever Avenue under Pastor Anderson. This is where she heard the Bible teaching that “God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16. One Sunday, Pastor Anderson prayed with Betty and her sister, Barbara, during which she asked to be forgiven for her wrong choices and to trust in Jesus as her Savior, believing that the Bible is God’s truth. The verse in John 14:6 stating, ‘“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”’ Her decision that day, Betty says, was the most important decision of her life. She would want you to know that you, too, can make that decision for your life.

Betty loved her family dearly and when her family fell on hard times, she chose to leave high school to find work in order to help out. Her first job was at Eckerd Drug Store on the corner of 9th and Orange Street. Betty worked in the photo department where she bought her first camera. It became one of her favorite hobbies. Betty worked a second job at the Dan-Dee Drive In Restaurant. After Eckard Drugs, She worked at Manor Pharmacy in New Castle, Delaware. While she was working there, she met the man who would become her husband, Elmore W. “Mac” Paris, who also shared the love of photography.

Betty and Mac married and lived with their six children in Colonial Heights until they moved into Brandywood. She felt fulfilled to be a wife and mother and was thankful to have been given this role. Betty had the gift of hospitality. Her home was always opened and she welcomed family and friends. She loved to cook and bake, and always worked hard to be sure she had “enough” for everyone. Holiday meals were always at her home where there was always room for one more. When it was time for her guests to leave, they never left empty handed. Each family had a shopping bag to take along with them. One Thanksgiving, she and her daughter, Susan, prepared 52 pies so everyone had a whole pie to go home with instead of just a single slice. She was generous with all she had.

Betty and Mac loved being outside in the yard. Their yard was full of beautiful flowers and fruit trees. Betty’s father taught her how to grow a vegetable garden. She had a large garden where she spent countless hours. She canned and froze the bounty- making jellies, pickles, relish, and more. We would often hear her say, “If you need me, I’ll be in the garden.” She shared that she spent much of her time there praying, and would often be heard singing her favorite hymn titled “In the Garden.”

Her relationship with the Lord and her family were the two most important things to her. Her focus was always to be a good wife, mother and grandmother. Her greatest hope for her family and all who came to her home was for them to trust Jesus as their Savior. Our Mother prayed with many of her children, family, and friends, showing them how to accept Christ’s gift of salvation. She had the heart of a servant. Betty served in her church helping in the kitchen and nursery, teaching Sunday School, working in VBS, and more. Our mother served the Lord in a quiet and humble manner. Later, after her children had grown, together with her husband, they took on the responsibility of bringing her parents into their home to care for them until their passing.

As a grandmother, Betty found an abundance of joy whenever a grandchild was in her presence. She enjoyed watching them play, singing songs together, supporting a fundraiser, being there to listen, sharing her wisdom, bird watching, offering sweets or insisting on an extra slice or two of pie -or whatever was on her table saying sincerely, “Just take it, you can have whatever you want!” She gave some of the best hugs, and always loved and blessed the lives of all her grandchildren.

Betty’s favorite verse was Phillipians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” She was a beacon of light- shining like a star in the universe- while sharing the good news and praising her Savior throughout her lifetime.

Her husband, whom she loved dearly, preceded her as did her son Jeffrey Dryden Paris, her son-in-law Jim Glendinning, and a granddaughter Autumn Lee Paris. She is also preceded by her brothers, Rudy, Tommy, and Jimmy Dryden. Her sister-in-law Reta Chamberlain, her brother-in-laws Dale Chamberlain, Joe Gallucio, John Mulholland, and Alfred DiSabatino. Her “adopted” in-laws, Joseph and Ella Kelly.

She is survived by her children Michael Paris (Melissa), Lisa Acker (David), Mark Paris (Ann), Susan Glendinning, and Kelly Haley (Bret).

Her grandchildren Dawn Pine (John), Jason Morris (KC), Becky Mello (Greg), Matthew Morris, Daniel Paris, Andrew Haley (Tiffany), Mark Morris (Jill), Justin Haley (Renee), Brandon Paris, Brooke Hilyard (Charles), Bethany Arce (Joe), Nicole Matthews (Lucas), Nathan Paris (Rosemarie), Joshua Paris (Carley), Seth Paris, Davey Acker, Zachary Paris, Jami Trotter (Truett).

Great-grandchildren Gavin, Jackson, Carson, Gracie, Reagan, Tyler, Bryson, Marlowe, Ezra, Naomi, Riley, Levi, Peyton, Noah, Raegan, Reid, Isaiah, Callan, Noel, Wyatt, Joslyn, Aubrey, Kylen, and one on the way.

She is also survived by her sisters June DiSabatino and Barabra Dryden, her sister-in-laws Yolie Chamberlain, and Molly Dryden, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

To honor her request, there will not be a funeral. For those who wish to honor her memory with a gift, donations may be made to Billy Graham Evangelical Assoc. or Samaritans Purse which was near and dear to her and her husband’s heart.

Thank You Lord for saving my soul, Thank you Lord for making me whole, Thank you Lord for giving to me, Thy sweet salvation, so rich and free!