Rev. Bettye Sue High Mixon

"Do not withhold good from those whom it is due, when it is in your power to act." PROVERBS 3:27 

 Reverend Bettye S. High Mixon, age 83, a retired United Methodist pastor, died Friday, 01/13/2023, at her home, with her daughters beside her.  Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2021, Bettye's courageous battle was a testament to her strength and determination.  A passionate advocate for the disenfranchised, poor, and marginalized, Bettye fearlessly named injustices around us and never stopped working on tangible solutions to address them.  Her greatest joys were her daughters, her grandson, gardening, and music.

 Bettye was born in Martin, TN, to Roberta and Virgil High in 1939. In search of work and opportunity, her family moved to Chicago in 1952.  Always a very serious student, Bettye attended the University of Chicago on a full scholarship, majoring in Philosophy and English Literature.  In 1959, Bettye left school and married Robert (Bob) Mixon.  In the 1960s, Bettye worked for Illinois Bell and played a critical role in the sale and installation of wall and "princess" telephones for Chicago's Marina City residents.  In the 1970s and early 1980s, Bettye worked as the Administrative Laboratory Manager for Martha Washington Hospital in Chicago.

 Always deeply faithful, Bettye was called to the ministry later in life.  In the late 1980s, Bettye returned to school, finished her bachelor's degree, and enrolled at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary where she earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1990.  While earning her master's degree, Bettye served as a student pastor in Carbon Cliff, IL.

 Upon graduation, Bettye was appointed as the Pastor of Epworth United Methodist Church in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, where she served until 2000.  In 1992, Bettye was ordained an Elder in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church.  While at Epworth, she served on the Board of Northside Providers, a coalition of organizations providing shelter for the unhoused.  Despite neighborhood opposition in the early 1990s, Bettye built bridges, negotiated with city officials, and open the doors of Epworth's gymnasium to homeless men.  Her legacy lived on through this shelter for over 30 years until the church closed in May of 2022.  During her time at Epworth, Bettye also served on the Board of the Organization of the Northeast (ONE).  ONE used collective power to eliminate injustice through community organizing.  Over her decade of service to the Epworth congregation, she played a formative role in the lives of many young adults who have since pursued long and successful careers in the ministry of the United Methodist Church and beyond.

In 2000, Bettye was appointed as the Senior Pastor of Centennial United Methodist Church in Rockford, IL.  While at Centennial, she served as the President of Rockford New Hope, an interfaith non-profit low-income housing provider and facilitated the purchase and rehab of multiple HUD certified low-income housing units in Rockford's urban core.  She continued in this role through her retirement, only stepping down a few months prior to her death.  When asked about her commitment to housing, she always responded that housing was a fundamental human right and everyone deserves a place to call home.  Bettye also served on the Board of Saturday Kids' Club, an arts-based program for children and was a member of the United Methodist Board of Ordained Ministry (Rockford District) where she helped develop and support the Latino Ministry of Centennial.  After her retirement in 2008, Bettye continued to serve multiple churches in northern Illinois on an interim basis.

 Bettye was preceded in death by her parents, Roberta and Virgil High, an infant daughter, Susan Lynn; and her brother, Virgil David High.  She is survived by her daughters, Dr. Constance Anne Mixon (Walter Braunschweig), of Chicago, IL, and Dina Michelle Zolin (Kevin O'Brien) of Chandler AZ; and her grandson, Ryan David Zolin, of Gilbert, AZ.

A visitation will be held on Monday, 01/23/2023, at Murphy Funeral Home at 1:00 PM with service to follow at 2:00 PM at the funeral home with Reverend Carol Cavin-Dillon officiating.  Internment will follow at Cate Cemetery, near Martin, TN.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held on March 4, 2023 at  2:00 PM at Edison Park United Methodist Church (6740 N. Oliphant Ave, Chicago, IL) with the Reverand Robert Burkhart officiating.

Memorials may be made to Rockford Urban Ministries (https://rockforduranmin.org) or One Million Degrees (https:onemilliondegrees.org).