Betty writes,

Like most people, I wear many hats, not all at the same time. I am a grandmother (my favorite hat), a mother, wife, lover, daughter, sister, singer, actor, speaker, friend, professional business woman, business owner and my latest hat is that of a Certified "Personality Trainer."

I am a Texan by birth and a Tennessean by choice. But you just can't take the Texan out of anybody... we are proud and boastful! After graduating Arlington High School, 1957, I attended UT at Arlington as a music major. Then came marriage and time in the Army living in a couple of different places. We moved back to Arlington and I worked at Farrell Animal Clinic while Walt finished college and earned his Bachelor’s degree from UT Arlington.  Walt, our kids and I all traveled and sang on weekends with my brother Calvin Wills and his family on the bus. Sometimes we would get home just in time for the kids and Walt to go to class and for me to go to work on Monday morning.

In the 1960's, my brothers and sisters, and all their families, The Wills Family, had a syndicated television program that played in over 100 TV markets. I spent a lot of this decade making television shows, but mostly I was just a mother.

The 1970's were a time of transition. In 1974, the Stephens moved to Nashville. Like a lot of people here, I was in the "music biz." My three children and I sang gospel, country and patriotic songs all over the U. S. at fairs, concerts, and churches. I also worked in television here in Music City.

Any entertainment business is "feast and famine," so in the 1980's, Walt and I moved to Louisiana, leaving our kids married or in college in Tennessee. Walt flew helicopters to the oil-rigs in the Gulf. I worked with the Lake Charles Chamber of Commerce in membership sales, marketing and public relations. This was flexible enough so I could still sing and speak on weekends. Since our kids were still in Nashville, I just had to come back to Tennessee. I became the first executive director of the Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce and stayed there seven years.

Then came the 1990's, I was bitten by the "acting bug." I did several commercials (had a 2 year contract with Kroger) and a couple of feature films and movies here in Tennessee and a lot of voice over work. I still audition more than I get the role but it is great fun and pays really good when I get the job (residuals are magic mailbox money). I have been an officer on the Screen Actors Guild board for the past ten years.

I left the chamber and started my own public relations and marketing company in 1994, producing promotional materials for chambers, economic development, and tourism organizations all over the south. During this time my company promoted many events and festivals in Middle Tennessee.

Walt and I have been married 50 years. He is a retired helicopter pilot. We have three children and seven living grandchildren. None of them live near enough to me to enjoy on a daily basis but when I do see them they get lots of hugs from "Ganna."

Traci Hughes Jungkurth, our oldest daughter, is now married to a preacher. In 1996, Traci and Joseph Hughes and their sons were hit by a drunk driver. Joe and Christopher, age 8, were both killed. Traci had a broken foot, but Peter, age 5, was not injured. All our lives changed forever. But God brought Vic Jungkurth into their life. Traci needed a husband and Peter needed a dad ... only they moved to Columbus, Ohio, where Vic was pastor of Columbus Baptist Temple. During the five years in Ohio, Traci earned her Masters in Counseling. She and Vic are now in Nashville and own New Hope Counseling Services, a part of Christopher Ministries, Inc. Peter, now 17, is 6' 2" and 195 lbs. and plays sports with a passion. Vic, Traci, and Peter all sing and play guitars together.

Tammy Smith, the middle child, is the one who went into "showbiz." She was one of the "Girls Next Door" country group on MTM and Atlantic Records and was on "Hee Haw" for two years. Jeff and Tammy have been married for 23 years. They have a daughter, Riley Marie age 15, who is an artist. She painted a self-portrait for her Popaw. Owen, age 11, is just all boy, looks like his mother but acts like his father. He wants to be a singer/musician/comedian like Jeff who was on "Hee Haw" for eight years. The Smiths moved to High Point, NC, in 1997. Jeff is a VP with Ashley Furniture and he and Tammy lead the praise and worship  music at their church. She also does all the mother duties and loves it!

Walter E. Stephens, III is a physician in Family Practice in Dickson, TN, only one hour away from Mt. Juliet. He and his wife, Laurie, have four girls. Twins, Erin and Sara, age 17 and Lauren, age 15. He had three girls under age two when he started medical school! Erin and Sara both play soccer and Sara represents Tennessee in cross country running.  Erin referees soccer and plays guitar as she leads youth worship at her church.  Lauren plays guitar, drums and all the girls love to sing! Walter’s wife Laurie, finished her Bachelors Degree at UT Chattanooga, ( I can't tell you in what), but she teaches parenting when she is not doing it. This Stephens family has the only baby, Leah, 5 years old, adorable and smart!

It is evident that I have a lived a long time and done a lot of different things. Needless to say, my life has been gloriously blessed. And with all these hats, my life is never boring!

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