In Loving Memory of Bettie Ann Coombs

April 13, 1941 – September 28, 2025

Our beloved mother, Bettie Ann Coombs, graduated to Heaven unexpectedly at home on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at the age of 84. Though her passing was sudden, we find peace in knowing she is now resting in the presence of the Lord she faithfully served.

Born in Robeson County, North Carolina, on April 13, 1941, she was the cherished only child of Herman and Annie Mae Currie. Raised in Ossining, New York, she grew into a woman of strength, grace, and vision.

She earned her bachelor's degree in English from New York University and later followed her passion for design at the Traphagen School of Design in New York City. She went on to own and operate two successful fashion boutiques in New Rochelle, New York, combining business acumen with a true sense of style.

Her career later flourished in real estate, where she worked for over 20 years in both New York and Florida. In the 1980s, she made history as the first Black woman in the state of Florida to own a Century 21 franchise—an achievement that inspired all who knew her. She later returned to retail management, working with integrity and leadership until her retirement in 2011.

A woman of unwavering faith, she read her Bible daily and lived with quiet strength and kindness. She loved to sew, devour a good book, especially a mystery novel, and spend time in the kitchen. She was well known for her delicious cakes—baked with love and shared generously with friends, neighbors, and anyone fortunate enough to know her.

She was everyone's mom—generous and full of heart. Whether offering wise counsel or a prayer for a strange, she touched lives with grace and compassion.

She was preceded in death by her loving parents and ex-husband, Herbert A. Coombs, Jr. She leaves behind her daughters, Kim Alston-Akers, and Shanda Coombs; grandchildren, Kim Aiden, Kai, and Kaden Alston-Akers; three stepsons; and a large circle of cousins, extended family, and cherished friends.

Her legacy is one of faith, generosity, and unconditional love. Though she is no longer with us in body, her spirit lives on in every life she touched and every heart she nurtured.