Betty Ruth Fritts

Betty Ruth King Thomas Fritts, 93, of Athens went to be with Jesus on 5 June 2026. Born on 13 November 1932, she was the daughter of Charley and Lena King of Alcoa, TN. She was the third child amongst six siblings – Jo, Bonnie Jean, Betty, Ann, Patsy, and Jimmy. Betty attended Basel School and Alcoa High School, where she would serve as the Beta Club President of her class. She grew up as an active member of the Alcoa Church of God, which was instrumental in her spiritual formation.

Betty married J.D. Thomas on 26 August 1951 with whom she would live in Maryville, TN, work for the phone company, and have her first son, John Christopher Thomas in 1954. On 16 September 1956, she would lose her young husband in a horrific car cash, which she and her son survived. Betty married Harvey Wayne Fritts on 19 October 1957 and moved to Lenoir City, TN. She gave birth to her second son, Mark Wayne Fritts, in 1959.

Joining her husband in ministry, Betty and Wayne established a thriving ministry to young adults at the Sixth Ave. Church of God in Lenoir City. Later when Wayne was appointed pastor of a church plant at the Northside Church of God, Betty became an important minister in her own right, establishing a powerful ministry to those on the margins, especially children of the poor. Among other things, her hard work resulted in hundreds of children being able to go to church summer camps. Betty was a gifted speaker, teacher, counselor, musician, singer, and person of prayer. She would later (1971-1973) serve with Wayne at the Tyner Church of God, working to bring healing to a hurting congregation, before settling in Athens, TN at the Woodward Ave. Church of God where, with the exception of a two-year pastoral stint in Huntsville, AL, she would serve alongside Wayne until his retirement. Betty was a student of Scripture and gifted teacher, having studied at Lee College and being the first student to audit courses at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.

Betty was a consummate daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and aunt. She is survived by her loving husband of 68 years, Harvey Wayne Fritts. Her children include John Christopher Thomas (Barb) and Mark Wayne Fritts (Tammy); grandchildren include Paige Thomas Scaperoth (David), Mark Wayne Fritts II (Andrea), Callie Rebecca Butler (James), and Lori Thomas Brown (Chad); great grandchildren include Lillie Rebecca Parsley, Madeline Danielle Scaperoth, Clare Julianne Fritts, Thomas Alan Scaperoth, William Floyd Fritts, Mary Violet Butler, Ezekiel Baxter Brown, and Irelyn Grayon West. Betty has a host of cousins, nephews, and nieces, some of whom lived with her and Wayne at various points over the years. She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings.

The family will receive family, church family, and friends on Thursday 11 June at 5.30 pm at the Woodward Church of God. The funeral will follow at the Woodward Church of God at 7.00 pm. Those leading her celebration of life service will be her son Dr John Christopher Thomas, her friend Dr Rebecca Basdeo Hill her great nephew Rev Zachary Tucker Davis, and Pastor Dustin Jack Wilds. Burial will take place on Friday 12 June at 11.00 am at Cedar Grove Cemetary.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Wayne and Betty Fritts Hall of the Prophets Scholarship Fund at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary (423 478 1131/423 478 7728).

Those unable to attend may send condolences to www.laycock-hobbs.com/obituaries/Betty-Fritts.

Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home in Athens is in charge of the arrangements.