Betty Jean Robinson Oswald

Betty Jean Robinson Oswald

November 30, 1928 – January 30, 2025

Betty Jean Robinson Oswald, 96, passed away Thursday, January 30, 2025 at her home with Bob and Pam by her side.  Betty was born on November 30, 1928 in Biloxi, Mississippi as the third and only living baby born to Viola and W. W. “Johnny” Robinson. She married Robert “Bob” Oswald in 1966.

At a young age, Betty made her profession of faith at First Baptist Church, Pascagoula. She was a member and church organist at Moffett Road Baptist and Zion Baptist Churches in Mobile, AL. At her death, she was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs.

Betty attended Pascagoula public schools grades 1-12. She graduated as Valedictorian of the 1946 class of Pascagoula High School with honors in band and music. She received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Piano and Education from Mississippi College graduating with Special Distinction.  She was in Who’s Who in American Colleges & Universities, selected Most Versatile Girl, and served as president of her women’s social club. Betty attended the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa receiving a Master of Arts, majoring in Educational Television with a 4.0, along with post graduate work. 

Through 18 academic school years, Betty was involved in the arts. She enjoyed participating, performing, writing and creating, which led her to choose Arts Education for her life’s career.  In Mississippi, Betty was a private piano teacher five years, an elementary teacher at Kearn Private School in Pass Christian, and Fernwood School in Handsboro. In Alabama, she was Mobile County Public School Music Supervisor for grades 1-8,  a fourth grade teacher at Kate Shepard Elementary School, Mobile; the Music, English and Speech teacher at Azalea Road Jr. High; and an English and Speech teacher, the Debate Coach, and Director of the Theater program at Davidson High School, Mobile.  Joining the first faculty of the University of South Alabama, Betty was an Instructor in the Speech and Theater Department. She was the accompanist for the South Alabama Glee Club, Interim Chairman of the Speech Department, and Faculty Advisor for Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority.  For 22 years, she was an instructor in the Fine Arts Department at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (formerly Jackson County Junior College), Gautier, MS, where  she was an Instructor of Oral Communication and Director of the Theatre program. 

Betty enjoyed creating and writing stories at an early age.  Her first story was published in the early 1930’s in the Sunday ‘Sunshine Club’ page of the  The Mobile Press Register. It was the beginning of her interest in literary arts.  She wrote a variety of literary creations, to include: “It’s Yours in Mississippi” for the SE Regional Conference of Delta Kappa Gamma; a pamphlet, “The National Judicial College Isn’t Just for Judges Anymore;” stories to the book, “A Centennial History of First Baptist Church, Pascagoula” for the 125th Centennial Anniversary; and two stories in the book, “Katrina, Mississippi Women Remember” stories written by members of Mississippi Women in the Arts.   She also wrote a history of the local Mississippi coast area titled, “Thought You Should Know” in 1976 with proceeds given to Pascagoula Woman’s Club, Anola Club of Pascagoula, and Jackson County Historical & Genealogical Society. In 2011 she wrote a book titled “Friends Along the Bayou” sponsored by the National Audubon Society. The de Grummond’s Children Literary Collection Library at the University of Southern Mississippi invited Betty to place the original book manuscript and illustrations in their collection of children’s literature.

Betty remained active in her community until her health prohibited her attendance.  She was past officer and member of Pascagoula Woman’s Club,  Anola Club, Magnolia Garden Guild, and the Gulf Coast Symphony Guild. Also, Betty served as state president of the Alabama Speech Association, and lifetime member of the Southern Speech Association.

Among her many awards, Betty received the Outstanding Service and Leadership Citation from the Jackson County Bar Association for initiating and directing numerous Law Day Speakers Contests, an “Oscar” for Best Director of a collegiate drama fraternity by the national Delta Psi Omega in 1992, and was honored as one of Ten Outstanding Women of the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1992, and Who’s Who in American Education; 

Betty was a member of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (DKG), a professional organization for women educators, from 1961 until her death. She held numerous leadership positions at chapter, state, and international levels of the organization. Because of her love for both music and DKG, she encouraged members to enjoy and participate in programs incorporating music, often writing and directing the programs herself. Betty served as president of the Mississippi State Organization of DKG (1991-1993) and received the state Achievement Award in 1995. Her children always said her epitaph would have to read, “She loved Delta Kappa Gamma.” But they didn’t get the chance to include that on her tombstone, because she pre-selected the DKG insignia engraved on her tombstone.

There were very few opportunities she passed up that included going somewhere.  Betty enjoyed traveling. Seeing and learning about new places intrigued her, and together, she and Bob planned many trips with their family and friends. She and Bob visited all 49 contiguous states, plus 31 foreign countries.

Betty is survived by the love of her life, Robert Holmes “Bob” Oswald.  They married July 23, 1966.  In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter, Pamela Jean Dismukes Perkins and husband, Weldon Darcy Perkins; son Robert Holmes Oswald, Jr.; daughter, Robyn Oswald Fairbanks; and daughter, Rebecca Oswald.  She is survived by her grandchildren, Matthew Earl Perkins (Sarah), Darcy Rebecca Perkins Ross (Peter), Richard Holmes Perkins (Lindsey), Eric Zoller, Aaron Zoller, Luke Zoller (Rattana), Antoine Auger, Gabrielle Oswald Auger Crapser (Drew), and Philippe Auger.  She is survived by her great grandchildren June Arlene Perkins, Matthew Weldon Perkins, William Marion Perkins, Samuel Perkins Ross, Benjamin Peter Ross, Eli James Ross, Libby Nan Perkins, Caroline Holmes Perkins, Zachary Zoller, Austin Zoller, Max Zoller, Mirabelle Zoller, Margot Auger, Marion Auger, and Emma Holmes Crapser. 

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, William Washington “Johnny” Robinson and Viola Estelle Collins Robinson, and her son, Glenn Porter Dismukes, Jr.

The family wishes to thank her Shepherd Elder, Greg Worch, and Pastor Scott Castleman, both from First Presbyterian Church, Ocean Springs; her close friends, Evelyn, Carol, Marcia, Mary, Joyce, and Peggy; Vital Caring and PDN, Inc. for the special care and kindness they provided to Betty and the family her last week. 

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Matt Perkins, Richard Perkins, Eric Zoller, Luke Zoller, Antoine Auger, Philippe Auger, Peter Ross and cousin, Bob Robinson .  Honorary Pallbearers are members of Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for Women Educators.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity or organization of your choice or to the family’s designated memorial: MGCCC Foundation to benefit the Jackson County Fine Arts Department. Please designate gifts with “In memory of Betty R. Oswald/JC Fine Arts Fund” in the memo or tribute line. Memorials should be mailed to: MGCCC Foundation, P. O. Box 99, Perkinston, MS  39573.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, 12:00-2:00pm, at O'Bryant-O'Keefe Funeral Home in Pascagoula, MS. Funeral Service will follow in the funeral home chapel at 2:00pm. Interment will be at Machpelah Cemetery in Pascagoula. 

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