Bettye Lord Tomlinson

With deep love and gratitude, we celebrate the life of Bettye Lord Tomlinson, who passed away at her home on July 24, 2025, in Dublin, Georgia. Born on April 17, 1939, she was the daughter of Grace Hawkins Bush and the beloved granddaughter of Ma Hawkins, her “Honey.” Bettye grew up in and around Ma Hawkins Restaurant, where she developed her lifelong love of community and good food. She graduated from Dublin High School and attended Georgia Southern University.

Bettye lived a truly remarkable life filled with warmth, compassion, and an unwavering devotion to her family. She was known for her kind heart, strong spirit, and the joy she brought to everyone fortunate enough to know her.

A lifelong fan of University of Georgia football, she proudly cheered on the Bulldogs through every season.

She is survived by her loving children, Lisa Outlaw (Tim Outlaw) and Hank Tomlinson; her cherished grandchildren, Matt Starley (Becca Starley) and Kellie Hamrick (Chris Hamrick); and her treasured great-grandchildren, Paisley Hamrick, EllieSlade Hamrick, Baker Starley, and Banx Starley. She is also survived by her brother, James Lord.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Luther Tomlinson, her son, Joel “Joey” Lord, and uncle, Charles Lord. Their memories remained forever etched in her heart.

Bettye lived her life with a deep and abiding connection to those she loved, and her greatest joy came from her family. She was a source of strength, laughter, and encouragement, always ready with a kind word or a listening ear. Over the past decade, she found great joy and satisfaction in the thousands of friends she connected with on Facebook, where she was adored for her warmth, humor, and positivity. Her legacy is one of love, friendship, and an extraordinary ability to make others feel valued.

A service to honor Bettye’s life will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, July 27, 2025, in the Mary Whitaker Townsend Memorial Chapel, with interment following at Northview Cemetery. Rev. Donnie Baker will officiate. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 1:00 PM until service hour at the funeral home. Friends and family are invited to share their memories and celebrate a life defined by love, family, and kindness.

Services will be live-streamed via the Townsend Brothers Funeral Home website.

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