Betty Jean Rowe Waring was born to Maxine McGary and Brooks Rowe, Sr. on September 6, 1939, in Douglassville, Texas. Graduating with honors from Panhandle High School in May 1957, she was awarded an academic scholarship to Prairie View A&M and then to its College of Nursing where she graduated with distinction in 1963. Recognized for her brilliance in the field, she went on to hold leadership positions at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland and other prestigious institutions over her 40-plus years of devoted service to patient care.

Beloved and cherished as a generous mother, grandmother, sister, niece and more, she is survived by: her three children (born during her 12-year marriage to Joseph Henry Waring) Yasmin Waring, Natashya Waring, Thomas Waring and daughter-in-law Tran Le Waring; her grandchildren Josephina and Brooks Waring; her sisters Charline Briley, Mayella Nash, Linda Sheppard and Iris Rowe; and many other aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins including Markeeta Walton, Dora Anne Watson and Operine Kelly.

Loving siblings who have predeceased her include: Martha Anne Rowe, Brooks Rowe, Jr., Horace Rowe and Frederick Rowe.

A viewing will be hosted by Haynes Mortuary, Inc. of Texarkana, Texas on Friday, July 14 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted at Haynes Mortuary on July 15 at 1:00 p.m. and she will be laid to rest at Chapelwood Cemetery in Nash, Texas.