Bette Del "BJ" Johnston Darnell

Bette Del "BJ" Johnston Darnell, age 72, died at home in Green Cove Springs on Tuesday, November 25, 2014. Born March 2, 1942 in San Francisco, California to Jo Louise and Jesse Johnston of Florida, she lived in Jacksonville, Green Cove Springs, and Albemarle, North Carolina, where she and her husband, Billy Ray Culp, had two children. Bette attended Clay High and some college. After divorcing, she worked in hospitals and rehabilitation centers in Jacksonville before moving to Green Cove Springs, where she worked for the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services with children until her retirement in 1998. Bette was an individual of complexity, contrast, and depth: a courageous advocate for animals and children, a free spirit who loved deeply, and a formidable woman with a sharp wit and no patience for fools or injustice. Bette rescued and loved animals. Bette glorified God on a regular basis by caring for those in need. She was a true Southern lady with a ready laugh and a wicked sense of humor. Survivors include Bette’s daughter Wendy (Jeff) Hillhouse of Albemarle, North Carolina; brother John (Sharon) Johnston of Spokane, Washington; 2 nieces, Anjela Johnston of Juneau, Alaska and Lori Johnston of Savannah; cousin Dolores (Wayne) Smith of Yulee; cousin Marcia (Lamar) Bevis of Jacksonville; her close friends Marge and Jerry Skelton of Orange Park, Florida and Charles Noble of Eureka; and many more dear friends and relations and pets/relatives. Bette was preceded in death by her son David Edward Culp, her mother and father, and pets/relatives. Graveside services will be held at 10am on Dec 3rd, Hickory Grove Cemetery 1831 Idlewild Ave. A celebration of BJ’s life will be held on March 2nd, 2015, her birthday, in the Green Cove Springs area. Memorial contributions are welcome at the Clay County Humane Societ(http://www.clayhumane.org/donate.php).