The Darlington Community is saddened to share the news of the passing of legendary former faculty member Elizabeth “Betsy” Breytspraak Awsumb.
Awsumb, age 81, died peacefully on Christmas Eve after a very brief hospitalization at Advent Health Redmond in Rome, Ga.
She was born in Memphis, Tenn., on March 18, 1942, daughter of the late James Merrill and Elizabeth Carrington Jones Breytspraak. There, she graduated from Rhodes College and the University of Memphis.
Awsumb has been a resident of Rome since her marriage to George Wells Awsumb in 1966. She was a lifelong educator, serving at Thornwood School, Shorter College, and Darlington School, where she established the international student program and enjoyed twenty years as international student director. She explored the world and expanded her family through the close relationships that she and George developed with her students. She loved to travel, and when she was home, she loved to read and take long walks.
Awsumb was a devoted member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, having served as director of Christian education, a member of the vestry, a choir member, a Sunday School teacher, and a soup kitchen volunteer. In the Rome community, she was on boards of Chiaha, Hospitality House, Rome Junior Service League and the Rome-Floyd County International Association. She was also a volunteer ESL tutor through the Rome-Floyd County Library.
She is survived by her three daughters, Catherine Awsumb Nelson (Chris) of San Luis Obispo, Calif.; Elizabeth Van Court Awsumb (Jennilyn) of Memphis, Tenn.; and Kristin Awsumb Liu (Jared) of Wallingford, Conn.; three grandsons, James Awsumb Nelson, Graham George Nelson, and Whitman Awsumb Liu; and two granddaughters, Roosevelt Awsumb Liu and Emerson Awsumb Liu. She also leaves two sisters, Catherine Breytspraak Cousins (Ben) and Virginia Breytspraak Kelley (Terry) of Memphis, and one brother, William Augustus Breytspraak (Linda) of Kansas City, Kan., and nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her beloved husband, George.
Funeral services for Betsy Awsumb will be held on Saturday, Dec. 30, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church with interment to follow in the St. Peter’s Memorial Garden.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Darlington School or Episcopal Relief and Development. The family will receive friends at a reception at St. Peter’s following the service.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Daniels-FuneralHome.com for the Awsumb family.
