Betty Jo Crider

Betty Jo (B.J.) Kleckley Crider, age 95, of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed peacefully on the evening of April 2, 2026. Born January 15, 1931, in Lexington, South Carolina, Betty Jo was the daughter of Hermon and Gerdie Kleckley of West Columbia. She attended Brookland-Cayce High School and Newberry College, where she was known for her beautiful voice and was often invited to sing at special events throughout her community. In October of 1950, she married her beloved husband, Randolph H. "Randy" Crider of St. Matthews, SC, and together they shared more than sixty years of marriage built on faith, family, and service to others. Anyone who stepped into their home would leave well-fed, hugged, and wiser from the stories, advice, and opinions freely shared around the kitchen table. Throughout her life, Betty Jo held administrative roles with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where she and Randy were founding members. She was also a longtime member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fayetteville, GA, where she cherished worship, Bible study, and lunches with her brothers and sisters in Christ. A devoted mother of three girls and a second mom to many of their friends, Betty Jo gave generously of her time and resources in many ways including the Auxiliary at Fayette Piedmont Hospital and the Lutheran churches she called home throughout her life. Acts of kindness and creativity were woven into her daily life: thoughtful handwritten cards for birthdays and milestones, recipes shared on index cards, and seasonal décor she fashioned and proudly displayed. She was preceded in death by her husband, Randolph H. Crider; her parents, Hermon and Gerdie Kleckley; her brother, Heyward Kleckley; and her son-in-law, David Hermecz. She is survived by her daughters, Kim Hermecz of Knoxville, Tennessee; Julie (Daryl) Still of Morrison, Colorado; and Joni (Brian) Watling of Williamsburg, Virginia; her grandchildren, Chris (Lily) Hermecz, Rachel (Jim) Linz, Robert (Shelby) Still, Kimberly Still, and Caleb Still; and her great-grandchildren, Noah, Ezra, Robert, and Maeve, along with many extended family members and friends. In memory of Betty Jo, those who remember her fondly are encouraged to eat their green beans, enjoy some blackberry cobbler with ice cream, put together a puzzle or play a game, and do an act of kindness for someone else. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, May 1, 2026, in the chapel at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, with visitation to follow. She will be laid to rest alongside her husband at Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 257 Hwy. 314, Fayetteville, GA 30214, or Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, PO Box 558, Stone Mountain, GA 30086

Betty Jo Crider

January 15, 1931 - April 2, 2026