On May 22, 1943, in Indianapolis, Indiana, James Thomas McRoy and Bettie Elizabeth Black McRoy welcomed their first daughter, Betty Jean. As the eldest of three girls, Betty Jean discovered early that she had something to say. She would gather her sisters and cousins and preach "Mary Had A Little Lamb" to her young congregation. What began as a childhood delight became a lifelong calling.

Betty Jean grew up at St. John AME Church in Indianapolis. Her faith traveled with her as life took her to St. Louis, back to Indianapolis, and home again to St. Louis. Wherever she lived, she found a place to worship, serve, and care for people.

In November 1971, Betty Jean married Webster Paden. Their family grew with the births of Felicia Marie, Melva Renee, and Richard Orlando. Betty Jean also welcomed Webster's children, Caryon, Stanley, Phyllis, and Narda, into her heart. Webster's first wife, Geneva "Aunt Myrtle" Gunnels, became Betty Jean's dear friend. Their bond was one of the many ways Betty Jean made room for love in her life.

Betty Jean was one of the pioneer members of Faith United Assembly, under the leadership of her brother-in-law, Bishop W. L. Fitzpatrick. She served as choir president for 16 years, joined the Faith United Missionaries and United Missionaries, and worked with the Prison Ministry and the Seekers Ministry under Pastor Linda Boyd. She gave her time faithfully, whether she was leading, singing, visiting, or working alongside others.

In 1996, Betty Jean returned to Indianapolis to care for her aging parents. She rejoined St. John AME Church and pursued the call she had known since childhood. She attended seminary through the AME Church and upon completion was ordained an Elder in 2001, by Bishop John Bryant at the historic Bethel AME Church. That year, she also became the assistant pastor of St. John AME Church and graduated from Martin University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Theology.

When someone asked whether her degree meant she planned to become a therapist, Betty Jean had another plan: "I just got my degree to have it. I'm still going to drive a school bus." She loved driving. With her brother-in-law, a map, and a bus full of passengers, she traveled across the United States on charter trips. She also drove students for the Ladue School District in Missouri and Washington Township in Indiana.

To Betty Jean, those students were "my kids." She celebrated their accomplishments, attended their graduations, band concerts, and games, and made them feel seen. They loved her, too. At holiday time, she came home with bags full of the gifts and cards they had given her. Those were signs of the bonds she had built one bus ride at a time.

After a heart attack in 2007, Betty Jean moved back to St. Louis, where she continued her service at Faith United Assembly. She remained a woman whose faith showed in what she did for others.

Betty Jean also knew how to enjoy life. She had won art competitions and earned a scholarship to art school. She had been a professional model, done light mechanical work at a service station, and ridden with a motorcycle club. She loved marbles, basketball, tennis, and horseshoes with her family. Give her a game of cards or dominoes with her nephews, and she was right where she wanted to be. Her family will remember her laughter, her energy, and how much fun they had together.

Elder Betty Jean Paden passed away on September 20, 2026, at 11:20 P.M., at the age of 83. She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Bettie McRoy; her husband, Webster Paden; her sister, Judy Ann Fitzpatrick; her nephews, Gregory and Daniel LaDale Fitzpatrick; her bonus daughter, Caryon Evangelista; and her grandson, Stanley Paden Jr.

Those who will cherish her memory include her sister, Althea Taylor of Chicago, Illinois; her children, Felicia Nettles, Melva (Melvin) Paden Moore of St. Louis, Missouri, and Richard Paden of Chicago, Illinois; and her grandchildren, Thomas Paden and Madison Moore of St. Louis. She also leaves Geneva "Aunt Myrtle" Gunnels; her bonus children, Stanley (Katrina) Paden, Phyllis Paden, and Narda (Byron) Shirley; and her bonus grandchildren, Stacey Clayton, Tira (Marvin) Brooks, Tiffani Patterson, Byron Shirley Jr., Phillip Shirley, Karina Matthews, Egypt Nettles and Kamaya Norman.

Betty Jean's nieces and nephews,, whom she loved as her own children, include Hilliard Fitzpatrick, Curtis Elliot, Patricia Carter, Laura (Kevin) Johnson, Judy Fowler, Emma Fitzpatrick, Anthony Taylor, Harriet Fitzpatrick, and Felicia Rush-Taylor. She also leaves her cousin and family patriarch, Clyde "Pookie" Warner; special cousins, Beatrice (Corey) Elliot and Nicki Coleman; special nieces, Taunia (David) Mason and Denise (Michael) Bryant; and her best friend, Atlene McNeely.

Her honorary children, Rachel Robinson, Amy Miller, Antionette "Baby Ann" Brown, Mark Ricks, Cheryl Barton, and Shawnta Taylor, will remember her with love, as will her spiritual sisters, Linda Boyd, Helen Sanders, and Helene Sanders. She also leaves a host of great grandchildren, cousins, great-nieces, and great-nephews, and her Faith United Assembly and St. John AME church familiies.

The little girl who preached to her cousins grew into an Elder who answered her calling. The bus driver who called her students "my kids" made them feel like family. And to those who loved her most, Betty Jean was a mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and friend whose joy filled a room. Her stories will be told, her laughter will be remembered, and her love will remain with them.