Betty Jean James

Betty Jean “BJ” Campbell James, age 73, passed away on December 23, 2015 at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe. Born in Shreveport, on March 10, 1942, Betty Jean graduated from Creswell Elementary School and Byrd High School in Shreveport. After attending Centenary College for one year, she completed her degree in elementary education at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where she was a member of Chi Omega Fraternity. She later earned a masters degree and certification to teach gifted children from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. From 1989 to 2005, Betty Jean taught in the gifted and talented program at Jack Hayes Elementary School in Monroe, where she was named Teacher of the Year in 2001-2002. Earlier in life, before becoming a full-time mother for two decades, she taught elementary school for four years in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Monroe.Betty Jean and husband John Walter “Johnny” James were married on June 10, 1967 at the First United Methodist Church in Monroe. They lived in Baton Rouge and Johnny’s hometown of Columbia before settling in Monroe in 1976, where they raised their two sons, Michael Clayton James and Kimball Andrew James (deceased).A member of PEO, the Garden Patch Garden Club and the Compassionate Friends of Northeast Louisiana, she enjoyed spending time with friends in her Friday afternoon coffee group and taking aerobics classes at the Monroe Athletic Club. Betty Jean was a longtime fixture at St. Pauls United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the Spirit Builders Sunday School Class, the Congressional Care Committee and the Pastor Relations Committee. She was also two-time President of the United Methodist Women and a founding member of The Prayer Group, among many other types of service.She and Johnny loved to travel. Over the years, they took tours and cruises to Africa, the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Machu Picchu, China, Russia, Turkey, Ireland, England, France, Italy and other destinations throughout the United States and Europe. They also spent a significant amount of time at their condo in Winter Park, Colorado, where they loved to hike in the summer and snowshoe in the winter.Betty Jean is survived by her husband of 48 years, Johnny; son, Michael (Dr. Kenneth Robert Schwartz) of Chicago; brother, Richard Michael Campbell, Sr. of Monroe; sisters-in-law, Rosemary Searcy Campbell of Baton Rouge, and Annell West James of Franklinton; nephews, John Stone Campbell, III (Stephanie) of Baton Rouge, Richard Michael Campbell, Jr. (Tonya) of Lafayette, Dr. Mark Lane James, Sr. (Holly) of Franklinton, and John Clayton James (Yanghee) of Montgomery, TX; nieces, Miriam Elizabeth Campbell Jones (Brad) of Seguin, TX, and Elizabeth Carroll James LeBlanc (Joe, deceased) of Mandeville; honorary grandchildren, Olivia Grace Cuthbert and James Jackson Cuthbert, Jr. of Monroe; and Dasher, their beloved cat.Betty Jean is preceded in death by her son, Kimball; parents, John Stone “Jack” Campbell, Sr. and Thelma Jean Kimball Campbell; in-laws, A. Clayton James, Sr. and Jettie Gertrude Head James Kersh; brother, John Stone Campbell, Jr.; and sisters-in-law, Arden Anders Campbell and Mary Jo Nutt James.A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 27, 2015 at St. Pauls United Methodist Church, 1901 Lexington Avenue, Monroe, with Rev. Dr. Tim Neustifter officiating. Visitation will take place at 1:00 p.m., also at the church. Services are under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Homes. Inurnment will take place at a later date in the St. Paul’s columbarium. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Pauls United Methodist Church or The Compassionate Friends of NELA, P.O. Box 6114, Monroe, LA 71211.The family would like to express their deep appreciation for the care provided by Dr. Emile Barrow and Dr. Charles Morgan.