Betty Ann Kenemer Chamblee

Betty Ann Durant Kenemer Chamblee, 87, of Dalton, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 27, 2022, surrounded by her family at The Gardens at Royal Oaks in Dalton.  She was very active in the community.  She was fundamental in helping to start the kindergarten program at Trinity Methodist Church.  She was a former director of the kindergarten program at First United Methodist Church and a retired kindergarten teacher from Roan Street Elementary School in Dalton. She was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church, the Robert Loughridge Chapter of the DAR, and Friends of the Library.

Betty Ann was born April 20, 1934, in Meridian, GA to the late Alexander McIntosh Durant, Sr. and Mary “Virginia” Jennings Durant.  She was preceded in death by a son, David Kendal Kenemer; brother, Alexander McIntosh “Mac” Durant (killed in WWII); brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Herme Durant; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Hale and Paul Herring.

Survivors include her husband, James B. “Jim” Chamblee, Sr. of Dalton; son and daughter-in-law, Kerry Durant (Liz) Kenemer of Asheville, NC; daughters, Virginia “Lynn” Kenemer Couty of Seigy, France and Angela “Beth” (James, Jr.) Kenemer Campbell of Rocky Face; daughter-in-law, Roberta “Bobe” Kenemer of Deltona, FL; stepchildren, James B. “Jim” (Berle) Chamblee, Jr. of Charlotte, NC, Lt. Col. John S. (Jean) Chamblee of Peachtree City, Rebecca (Scott) Chamblee Sibley of Cohutta, Lt. Col. William “Bill” (Anne) Chamblee of Rigney-Usse, France; brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Margaret Durant of Townsend; 16 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and numerous close nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and cousins.

Betty Ann’s family asks that you remember her by her smiling eyes, open arms, and endless supply of heart-warming and hilarious stories shared out of kindness to help us rise above sadness and disappointment. She always believed that joy and laughter could cure anything, and, by her example, made believers of us all.

A memorial service in her honor will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church with Reverend Dr. Brian Clark and Reverend Phillip Cannon officiating. The family will receive friends in the Atrium of the Church from 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Donations can be made to Doctors Without Borders ( donate.doctorswithoutborders.org ), First United Methodist Church of Dalton (500 N Thornton Ave., Dalton GA 30720), Durant House (Donations towards the upkeep of her family home Venmo / @durant-house).