Bettye Harrison
Bettye lngle Harrison, 95, a lifelong resident of Chattanooga and prominent realtor, died peacefully on Wednesday, August 28, 2019, at her daughter's home surrounded by family.
She is survived by her daughter, Elwynn Schwartz; son, Ken (Melanie) Harrison; brother, Edward (Catch) lngle; sister, Andrea (George) Lawley; grandchildren, Karen (Art) Johnson, Susan (Mark) Crispell, Skip (Holly) Schwartz, George (Mallory) Harrison, Zachary (Maegan) Harrison, and Whittaker Harrison; great grandchildren, Caroline Riede, Nicholas Johnson, Chamberlain Johnson, Skylar Schwartz and Blayden Schwartz; several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, Merle R. lngle and lrene A. lngle; her husband George K. Harrison; her brother and sister-in-law Harold (Bettye) lngle; her son-in-law Harold (Hal) Schwartz.
A lifetime resident of Chattanooga, Bettye began a career in real estate in 1956 that spanned over 50 years, when she joined the E Cecil Phillips firm in its real estate and rental departments. She joined the sales team in 1962 and was named sales manager in 1964 and managing broker in 1968. In 1987 she went to work with Gloria Sutton Realtors, with only a handful of agents, and helped build the company to over 100 agents, the largest real estate firm in Tennessee at that time. She became Senior Vice President and General Manager for Gloria Sutton Realtors. She was a certified residential specialist (CRS), the first Chattanooga realtor to become a certified residential broker (CRB), graduate of Realtors Institute (GRI), National Women's Council of Realtors leadership training program (LTG), and senior real estate specialist (SRES).
Among Bettye‘s leadership contributions to the real estate Industry are National WCR president in 1986; National WCR regional vice president, 1972; and WCR Tennessee Governor in 1976; Tennessee Association of Realtors regional vice president, 1980; president of the Tennessee Realtors Education Foundation 1981-82; president of the Chattanooga Association of Realtors in 1983 and again in 1998.
She was the 1981 Tennessee WCR Woman of the Year and was state WCR president as well as president of the state Certified Residential Specialist chapter in 1984. She was a Chattanooga Association of Realtors director from 1976 through 1984 and again from 1994 until 1996. In 1999 Bettye was profiled in the publication National Relocation and Real Estate in a story about the 500 most powerful women in real estate. She was Chattanooga Realtor of the year in 1976 and became the first woman Realtor of the year for Tennessee in 1987.
Bettye was an advocate for specialized education for realtors. She served 10 years as a trustee for the Tennessee Realtors Education Foundation and two years as the president of the foundation. She was certified to teach pre-license courses for brokers in office management as required by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission and certified to teach post license courses 1 and 2 as required by the Georgia Real Estate Commission.
She was a former member of the Pilot Club, an executive women's service club; a member of St John's United Methodist Church, the Joy Sunday School Class, and United Methodist Women; President of the 1942 Central High School Alumni Group.
There will be visitation at the Chattanooga Funeral Home North Chapel, 5401 Highway 153 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 2.
A memorial service will be in the funeral home chapel at 2 p.m. with Reverend Carl Blackburn and Reverend Dallas Beck officiating. A private burial will be held.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Rebecca Crain for being such a loving, compassionate and competent caregiver who has become family during the past seven years, as well as Amedysis Home Health and Hospice for their wonderful care, especially Nicolette, Janetta, Misty, Mia, Coral and Michael during the past year. The family would also like to thank Senior Helpers, Jamie Kelley, for the joy and help she brought the family during the past few weeks.
ln lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St John's United Methodist Church, 3921 Murray Hills Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37416, or the Alzheimer's Association, 225 Ni Michigan Avenue, Fl 17, Chicago, IL 60601
Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.