Betty Welsh Epperson, 92, of Granite City, Illinois passed away at 8:33 a.m. on Friday, June 21, 2019 at Granite Nursing and Rehabilitation in Granite City. She was born September 18, 1926 in Granite City, a daughter of the late Calvin and Myrtle (Jones) Lazenby Sr. She retired in 1990 from St. Elizabeth Hospital in Granite City after ten years of dedicated service as a secretary. She was a member of Calvary Life Church in Granite City and a former member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Granite City. She served the community as a volunteer, working with the Literacy Program with Belleville Area College, worked in the St. Elizabeth Hospital Gift Shop and with the Clean Hands Program through the Madison County Extension. She also belonged to Church Women United and Faith in Action.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two husbands, Paul Welsh and Thomas H. Epperson Sr.; a daughter, Sue Welsh; a brother, Calvin Lazenby and son-in-law, Robert Cunningham. She is survived by a daughter, Paula Cunningham of Granite City; son-in-law, Eric Engel of St. Louis; grandchildren, Zachary Cunningham and wife, Ahlam Jaber, Kyle Cunningham and fiancé, Shelbi Simmons and Courtney Whitacre and husband, Joseph Whitacre; honorary great grandchildren, Jacob, Hannah, Peter, Evelyn and Avery; other extended family and friends.
In celebration of her life and in accordance to her wishes, cremation rites will be accorded. A memorial visitation will be at Irwin Chapel, 3960 Maryville Road in Granite City on Friday, June 28, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Mark Maynard officiating. Burial will follow at Glen Carbon City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Calvary Life Church or to the St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness and may be accepted at the funeral home. www.irwinchapel.com
