Betty Jean Sanchez

Betty Jean Sanchez, a long-time resident of Selma, Alabama, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the age of 96.

Betty was born in Dothan, Alabama, February 18, 1930, to Arthur T. and Essie Lee Johnson.

Betty always had an adventurous spirit and upon graduation from Dothan High School in 1949, she traveled to San Francisco for what was to be a summer visit with her brother’s family. Instead, she found a job and met the love of her life, Jesus (Jesse) Sanchez, one evening when he asked her to dance. They married March 17, 1951. Jesse was in the Army and was shipped out a week later to serve his country. In 1953 Jesse was discharged from the army and he and Betty returned to her home town of Dothan with their son Juan A. (Tony). In 1955 Betty and Jesse moved to Selma, Alabama. This time the family was complete with infant girl, Debra (Lee) who was only a month old. Selma became the Sanchez family’s home town, where they were loved and admired by so very many!

Betty loved her family. She enjoyed singing and dancing, as well as fishing (she taught Jesse), and hunting (Jesse taught her). Betty and her family were frequent visitors to Lock 5 near Greensboro, AL – first camping out under the trees near the boat ramps, graduating to the tent-life, and, finally, buying a couple of adjoining pie-wedge parcels on a creek. This purchase set in motion the “fancy” camp life with a used trailer. There was a total of three different trailers over the years. Situated on a creek, that first one repeatedly flooded. Betty and Jesse would refurbish it, and it would flood again. Then came a second with the same outcome, until the 3rd one made it onto stilts with a nice deck. They spent many a weekend at their camp, boating and fishing, sitting on their deck watching the hummingbirds or, after a fishing outing, sitting by a campfire that Betty had built while Jesse cleaned fish.

From 1968 or so, with the formation of the family (plus a drummer) band -- The Sanchez 4+1 – Betty sang and played organ. Later, after their kids moved on to other endeavors, she and Jesse played as a duo at local hotel lounges. Over the years, and always enjoying singing and dancing, Betty and Jesse would, from time to time, be invited to sing or dance for the residents of Cedar Hill Assisted Living facility and were guests at local churches, participating in song, during Gospel singings. Betty devoted her life to doing things with her family, especially her forever love, Jesse.

In addition to her musical talents, Betty worked for several years for Independent Lock Company. She left there and went to work for Hammermill Paper Company-International Paper. She retired after 25 years of service.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Herschel C. Johnson; and sister, Mathilda “Tillie” Dempster.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Jesus J. “Jesse” Sanchez of Selma; her son Juan A. “Tony” Sanchez of Valley Grande, AL; daughter Debra Lee Sanchez-Saxon of Savannah, GA; grandchildren Jesus J. Sanchez, II, of Woodstock, GA; Bianca Sanchez Jones of Prattville, AL; Marea N. Sanchez of Denver, Colorado; Dayton A. Rader of Piedmont, AL; and great-grandchildren Kaleb W. Jones of Prattville, AL; and Alyssa M. Sanchez of Athens, GA.

Funeral services will be Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. in the chapel of Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home with Rev. Tony Milstead officiating. She will be laid to rest at Pineview Memory Gardens at a private ceremony. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m., prior to the service at the funeral home in Selma.