Dr. Betty Ann Metts

Dr. Betty Ann Hogan Metts Macon . . . . . Dr. Betty Ann Hogan Metts passed away Monday afternoon after a long period of declining health. She was born December 6, 1929, in Dublin, Georgia, to Gladys Gray Combs Hogan and Rubert Leonard Hogan. Betty Ann grew up in Dudley, Georgia, and attended elementary and high school there. Betty Ann was blessed with a large extended family and had fond memories of growing up in the midst of her Hogan aunts, uncles and cousins. Betty Ann was a gifted athlete and a well-known leading scorer of the Dudley Girls Basketball team. In 1946, Betty Ann led her team to victory in the District Tournament, which was the equivalent of a state championship at that time. The highlight of her basketball career was being named to the All District Team in 1946. Betty Ann was thrilled in March 2005, when Scott Thompson wrote an article for the Dublin Courier Herald recounting the 1946 Dudley basketball season and Betty Ann’s athletic achievements. As was the custom at that time, Betty Ann graduated high school at age 16 and left home to attend Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. After two years, she transferred to the University of Georgia to pursue an athletic/coaching degree. Part of the required curriculum was a course in human anatomy at which she excelled. Her success in that course, along with the encouragement of several students, convinced Betty Ann to switch to a pre-med major. After college, Betty Ann graduated from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. After a grueling internship at Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago and a residency back in Augusta, Betty Ann became a board certified anesthesiologist. In 1960, she began a solo practice in Savannah, Georgia. It was in Savannah that Betty Ann fell in love with the beach. Her family was fortunate to spend summers at their beach house on Tybee Island, and for the rest of her life, Betty Ann would relish long walks on the beach and sitting in a beach chair as the surf came up. Betty Ann moved with the children to Macon, Georgia, in 1969 when she joined the Anesthesia Associates of Macon. She devoted her life to raising her children as a single mother, while practicing medicine-something that was unusual at that time. She spent many hours attending Stratford Academy basketball games to cheer for her daughters. In 1980, Betty Ann retired from medicine and began an adventurous stage of life. She took up tennis, biking, and traveling with friends. It was during this time that Betty Ann found a passion for Christ — something that brought a new meaning to her life. She found a spiritual home at First Presbyterian Church and relished their Bible studies. Betty Ann spent many years delivering Meals on Wheels and driving the elderly women from the Methodist Home to appointments, shopping, etc. The Bank of Dudley played a big part in Betty Ann’s life. Her father was the president and majority shareholder for many years. Throughout the years, many people from the Dudley community have shared stories of how they were helped by Mr. Hogan and the Bank of Dudley. After Mr. Hogan’s death, Betty Ann’s mother became bank president, a position she held for many years. Betty Ann was a major shareholder of Laurens Bancshares, the holding company for the Bank of Dudley, and served on its Board of Directors for many years. Betty Ann was beaming with pride at the bank’s 100th anniversary celebration in 2005. For that past two years, Betty Ann was faithfully and lovingly cared for by Joyce Brown and Lisa Kendricks. The family would like to thank Joyce and Lisa for the love, respect and joy they poured into Betty Ann’s care. Joyce and Lisa, you have earned a crown in heaven. Betty Ann was preceded in death by her beloved sister, Barbara Hogan McLees and brother-in-law, William G. McLees, Sr. Betty Ann is survived by four children, Beth Metts Vaughn (James) of Forsyth, James Clayton Metts III (Pam) of Savannah, Sandra Metts of Macon and Lynn Metts Oelkers (Galen) of Atlanta. She was so very proud of her 13 grandchildren, Traci Metts Watts (Todd), Courtney Metts, Brittany Margaret Hennessey (Golden), April Wynell Baggarley (John), Jennifer Vaughn Hickson (Edward), Matthew Vaughn (Crystal), Benjamin Vaughn (Kris), Jordan Vaughn (Kristal), Patrick Willis (Brandi), Chris Willis, Caroline Oelkers, Virginia Oelkers and Lillian Oelkers and seven great-grandchildren. The family will be receiving visitors Thursday, from 6 - 8 pm at Betty Ann’s home, Apt. 2022 at Carlyle Place, 5300 Zebulon Road, Macon. The funeral will be held graveside at the Hogan plot in Northview Cemetery in Dublin on Friday at 11 a.m. The Rev. John Kinser will be conducting the service which is open to the public. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to First Presbyterian Church of Macon, 682 Mulberry Street, Macon 31201 or Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 6333, Macon 31208. Arrangements are being handled by Monroe County Memorial Chapel.