Bette J. Starnes Endowment

In late 2009, loyal and passionate Bette Starnes established the Bette J. Starnes Fund for the Quincy Humane Society. Bette was a family-oriented woman who shared a strong love for animals along with her sister younger, Marilyn, whom Bette called “Mick” or “Micky.” After her sister passed away in 2009, Bette realized she wanted to give back and saw the Community Foundation as a vehicle to do so. “Mick and I both loved animals and had some extra ‘little’ cash, so it took off from there,” she said. Specifically, Bette had always been partial to animals that have been abused or lost their home, and she spoke very fondly of her cat, Smoky.

Bette belonged to Salem Church, and worked for her brother-in-law, orthodontist Dr. Ralph McReynolds. Bette never married or had children; she chose to take care of her mother. In her free time, Bette enjoyed traveling and fishing, and spending time with her close-knit family. Her friend and co-worker, Elizabeth Stanley, described Bette as “an all-around good person, and had a strong will of her own.”

After Bette passed away January 5, 2014 and with permission of her advisors, the Community Foundation announced that she had left a $3 million bequest. Per her wishes, a portion of this gift went to the Bette J. Starnes Fund for Quincy Humane Society, a portion established the Alzheimer’s Association Endowment benefiting its Quincy chapter, and a portion went to the Bette J. Starnes Endowment to support the Community Foundation’s grantmaking.

Because Bette looked forward when she considered giving back, her kind-hearted spirit spurred her to create a permanent legacy supporting the causes that mattered to her for generations to come.