Betty Jo Coddington

Betty Jo Coddington, age 81, wife of Neil A. Coddington and daughter of Snowden and Maetrelle Shehan, departed this Earth peacefully into the loving arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ, on Good Friday, April 7, 2023 surrounded by family and beloved friends.

Born December 16,1941, in Valdosta, Georgia, this southern lady was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. When Betty Jo was 9 years old, she publicly confessed Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Subsequently, her life was forever marked by the transforming power of Christ alive and working through her. This was evident in her incredible marriage of nearly 63 years to the love of her life, Neil. This was also apparent in her steadfast devotion to each of her children, including the remarkable 50+ year daily commitment to ensure her extraordinary daughter "Jennifer Jo" was provided every opportunity to achieve her God-given potential in the face of adversity and struggle. Betty Jo loved to read, study, and share the living hope found in the pages of the Bible. This vibrant hope drove her to serve as a lifelong Sunday School Teacher since the age of 17, a volunteer and advocate for so many under-served and under-cared for people across a variety of organizations, including her many years of service through her churches here in Albuquerque (Hermosa Baptist Church, Highland Baptist Church, Eastern Hills Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, Del Norte Baptist Church, and Monterrey Baptist Church) and many other churches across the country. She trained and served as a TBN prayer partner, served as a Red Cross volunteer and trainer at the VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, and volunteered as a classroom aide in special education classes. She deeply cared about the lives and struggles of other people, including the homeless community and often visited the sick and lonely, providing meals, gifts, calls, and prayers.

Betty Jo took on her responsibilities as an "Air Force wife" with the same commitment to her family as every other aspect of her life. With over ten moves in Neil's 30+ years of service in the Air Force, Betty Jo took on the job of getting the family settled into each new place, making connections with schools, doctors, new friends, and, of course, new churches, as well as the whole moving process with lots of children in tow.

Betty Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Snowden and Maetrelle Shehan; by her especially dear grandmother, "Tissie"; by her great-grandmother, Maggie; and by her precious daughter, Jennifer Jo. Betty Jo is survived by her husband, Neil Coddington; daughter, Julie Pederson and family; sons, Jeffrey Coddington and family, Jeremy Coddington and family, and Wilbur Koger and family; 12 grand­children, 8 great-grandchildren; and countless loving friends in Albuquerque and across the United States.

A Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 2:00 p.m., at Monterey Baptist Church, 12501 Lomas Blvd. NE. Betty Jo will be buried in the family plot near her parents and her cherished Jennifer Jo at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Valdosta Georgia.