Betty Jean Lewis Hassell was born in Greene County, Mississippi
on January 30, 1941, the third of five siblings, to the union
of Jasper and Lottie Lewis. The family moved to Urbana-Champaign
in 1943 where she has resided ever since. Mrs. Hassell attended
the Urbana Public Schools and graduated from Urbana High School
in 1959. She attended Parkland College, majoring in Child Development.
In 1960, Betty was united in Holy Matrimony with Charles Edward
Hassell, Sr., and they are the proud parents of three children:
Charles E. Hassell, Jr., Philip L. Hassell, Sr., and Elana M.
Hassell. They are also blessed with three grandchildren: Danielle,
Philip Jr., and Joshua Hassell.
Betty accepted the Lord at the age of 10 and was baptized and
united with Salem Baptist Church in Champaign. As a young adult,
she was very active in the youth choir and served as Director
and pianist. Betty also assisted and played for the Majestic and
Gospel Choir at Salem Baptist Church. She has been a pianist at
Salem since 1973 and was named Assistant Minister of Music in
1982.
For a brief time, Mrs. Hassell left the Urbana-Champaign area
to join her husband on military assignment. Upon her return to
the community, she immediately resumed her church activities and
community involvement. Over the years, her activities have included:
Sunday School Educator, Secretary, Sunshine Children's Choir Director,
Missionary for Prison Ministry, Church Bulletin Clerk, Vacation
Bible School Registrar and Superintendent, Festival for Youth
Manager, Operation Excellence Volunteer, Children's Holiday Organizer,
Choir Day Director, and Woman's Day Chairperson for the Salem
Baptist Church; Registrar, National Baptist School of Religion;
Assistant Director and Bookkeeper to Helen E. Johnson, Salem Baptist
Church Pre-School; Member, National Black Child Institute; Assistant
Secretary and Secretary, Wood River District Region 3; Board Member,
Champaign County YWCA; Vice President, National Council of Negro
Women; Muscular Dystrophy Drive Volunteer; March of Dimes Worker;
"Do the Right Thing" Organizer, Urban League; and Best
Interest of the Children Volunteer.
Some of Mrs. Hassell's most memorable moments have been the birth
of her children and grandchildren; being nominated for "Mom
of the Year" at the University of Illinois in 1988; being
a recipient of the Eddie Bee Edwards Black Humanitarian Award
of the Baptist General State Convention and the Outstanding Villagers
Award given to her by the Ministerial Alliance of Champaign and
Urbana. Mrs. Hassell has played a strong mentoring role for many
young women and men, not only in her church and community, but
around the world as well. She takes pleasure in seeing the children
she mentors grow up meeting their educational and spiritual goals
as adults.
Betty
Jean Lewis Hassell
)
denotes original charter members of the Champaign County Section
of the National Council of Negro Women.