Elizabeth Denman

Elizabeth Reed Denman died Thursday, April 25, 2013.She was born Sept. 3, 1919, in Prospect, Giles County, Tenn., to Cleveland W. Denman and George Ethyl Reed Denman. Betsy spent her childhood in Fairfield, Ala., and was a proud graduate of Fairfield High School where she was an honor student. She attended Florence State College (now the University of North Alabama), and received a B.S. degree in elementary education from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa; she also received a Masters Degree in hospital recreation from the University of Minnesota.She lived a life for others, first teaching school in Athens and Gadsden, Ala.; she was later affiliated with the Girl Scouts of America in Birmingham; then joined the American Red Cross as a recreational supervisor, serving in the capacity for 18 years. For two years during World War II she was stationed in New Guinea and in the Phillipines. Following the war, she served at military bases in Italy, Korea, Japan and in seven states of the U.S.After leaving the Red Cross, she settled in Chattanooga, where she was the first recreational therapy director at the newly opened Moccasin Bend State Psychiatric Hospital. She was active in the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association, where she was instrumental in establishing a special therapeutic section. She retired from Moccasin Bend in 1982. She moved to Louisville, Ky., in 1996 where her sister lived. She spent her last years at the Brookside Forum independent living facility in Middletown, Kentucky. While in Louisville, she volunteered in outreach with the Walnut Street Baptist Church.Miss Denman was a member of the Womens Overseas Service League, Friendship International, the University of Alabama Alumni Association and the St. Matthews United Methodist Church. While living in Chattanooga, she was a member of the First Centenary United Methodist Church of Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Businesswomens Club and the Pilot Club of Chattanooga, of which she served as President. She loved international travel and meeting people of all nationalities and cultures. During her lifetime, in addition to her assignments with the Red Cross, she visited Alaska, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Thailand, Africa, Australia, South America, Mexico, several Mediterranean area countries and most countries in Europe. She was also an avid reader and bridge player.She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Denman Kellerman, of Louisville; a nephew, Robert W. (Sonja) Kellerman, of Frankfort, R. Lucas Kellerman, great-nephew and Sara Elizabeth Kellerman, great-niece.There will be visitation at Pearsons, 149 Breckenridge Lane from 2-5 p.m. Saturday.The remains will be cremated, and interred in Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham, Ala., at a later date.