Funeral Services are scheduled for Saturday December 14, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Greater Neal Temple of God and Christ, 286 Old Alexander Hwy in Winnfield, Louisiana. Visitation will begin at 5p.m. until 7p.m. on Friday December 13, 2024 at Heritage Rowe Funeral Home and Memorial Park 1352 Belview Road in Leesville, Louisiana, and resume on Saturday December 14, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Greater Neal Temple of God and Christ in Winnfield, Louisiana until the time of services. Interment will follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Leesville, Louisiana. Bishop Avon Lynch will officiate the funeral services.
Betty Ann Conerly Stokes was born on August 28, 1950 in Leesville, Louisiana to adoring parents Mr. Willie “White” Conerly and Mrs. Ethel Runnels Conerly. She was a spirited child with a healthy streak of mischief and brought joy and laughter to all that were present for her childhood. Our family has heard many tales of her adventures growing up, all told with laughter and smiles.
Betty attended and was a graduate of Vernon High School. She was extremely proud of the quality of her education during a time period that was rooted in segregation. She always said that she had the best and hardest teachers and they instilled a love for learning and a thirst for knowledge that stayed with her throughout her entire life. Betty graduated from Vernon High in 1968. She was always active in Vernon High reunion activities and she thoroughly enjoyed seeing and reconnecting with all of her classmates through the years.
Upon graduation, Betty attended and was a graduate of Grambling State University’s Class of 1972. She was an avid fan and always rooted for “her tigers”. Every Bayou Classic Saturday, she was sure to be found in the vicinity of a television cheering her team on. In the event that Grambling would win, the phone lines would be ringing (especially if you went to Southern University) and you could be sure to receive a call from her asking, “How ‘bout them Tigers?” with a laugh and a smile.
In 1973, Betty met the love of her life, Elder Leroy C. Stokes. After a whirlwind romance, they were married on February 15, 1974. During their 50 year marriage, she always made sure that she chose his suits and outfits because she always referred to him as her own personal “Ken Doll”. Two daughters were born to this union, Melissa and Marlana. They were always their biggest cheerleaders and provided everything the girls needed and wanted. Throughout the years of their marriage, they were the ultimate model for the institutions of marriage and family, and the personification of what marriage vows, unconditional love, and true devotion truly means.
Betty was an educator with the Vernon Parish School Board for thirty-three years, with the majority being at East Leesville Elementary as a second grade teacher. She taught generations of families- children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren during the span of her career. She was known for her no-nonsense, tough love approach to education. Her students had no limitations to what they could do, and she ensured that they reached for the farthest stars. Every class that Betty taught was “her babies”, and she loved them as her own. She rarely forgot a face or name of a former student. She was always encouraging and fiercely devoted to the generations of students that she taught in Vernon Parish throughout the years, even to adulthood. Countless students have come back to find her as adults, tell her how their lives have progressed, and to thank her for being the teacher that she was.
Upon her retirement in 2005, she began her work in conjunction with the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Department as director of Families In Need of Services (F.I.N.S.) for Vernon Parish and the 30th Judicial Court of the State of Louisiana. It was in this role that she utilized all of her previous experience in education and began working with children and their families throughout Vernon Parish. She was a mother, counselor, therapist, friend, mentor, tutor, facilitator, or whatever each family needed. She always used to say, “If I can’t help you, I will direct you to someone who can”. She considered this role as her most important work besides being a wife and mother, and continued in this role until her she completed her final transition on December 3, 2024.
Preceding her in death are her parents Willie “White” Conerly and Ethel Runnels Conerly; one brother, Thomas Edward Conerly, and two sisters, Jean Evelyn Conerly and Phyllis Smith.
Left to cherish her memory is her devoted husband of 50 years, Elder Leroy C. Stokes of Leesville, La; her daughters, Melissa Stokes Delaney and husband Carlos of Leesville, La; Marlana Stokes of Leesville, La.; one adopted daughter that she loved as her own, Amy Chanlatte of Leesville, La.; one grandson who was her pride and joy, Carlos “King Choo Choo” Delaney II of Leesville, La; two special lifelong friends who were more like sisters Barbara Warren of Leesville, La. and Elizabeth “Doll” Shaw of Milwaukee, WI.; five beloved grandpuppies; and a host of relatives, friends, colleagues, classmates, and former students.
Heritage Rowe Funeral Home and Memorial Park L.L.C 1352 Belview Road Leesville, Louisiana 71446 (337) 353-8762 www.heritagerowe.com is in charge of the arrangements. Condolence can be expressed at Heritage Rowe Funeral Home and Memorial Park/ Facebook.