Portious, Betty Mae

ALBANY- On May 31, 2017 at 4:38 pm the Lord touched Mrs. Betty Mae (Johnson, Robinson) Portious. He whispered in her spirit you have fought a good fight, you have kept the faith, you finished the course and you are now ready to go with me to eternal peace. Betty was born on October 21, 1944. Of the seven children born to the late Ruben and Curley A. Johnson she was the only daughter. She was a graduate of the Shirley Owens School in Quitman, MS. At an early age she accepted Christ and was a member of the Shiloh Baptist Church.

Betty and her husband were a part of the “Great Migration” from Shubuta, MS to Albany, NY with the late Elder John Johnson, where she became a member of St. John’s COGIC.

She was employed for over 30 years at the New York State Department of Labor while raising her 3 children, Denise (Albany, NY), Subrena (Bloomington, IL) and Bennie Robinson, Jr. (Phoenix, AZ).

She later married Elder Vincent Portious and assisted him in raising his 2 daughters, Maysline, and Caseta, joining Arbor Hill COGIC under the leadership of Elder Calvert Bowie.

Betty was a Hurricane Katrina survivor. She was able to get her mother and herself to safety, and temporarily resided in Bloomington, Ill. before returning home to Albany, NY.

Betty enjoyed spending time with her family creating treasured memories. She often invested words of wisdom with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She always had an encouraging word with a witty charm.

She was predeceased by her parents, her brothers, James, Ruben Jr., Robert and George Johnson. She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, Elder Vincent Portious; children Denise, Subrena, Bennie and Kyla Robinson, Maysline, Caseta, Howard, Linford and Winston Portious; siblings Edward and Jesse Lee Johnson; brother-in-love, Ellis Mitchell, brothers-in-law Adelphous, and Howard Portious, sisters-in-law Desreen, Eliza Portious, grand and great-grandchildren and a host of family and friends. She also leaves her devoted dog Wilhelmina (Willie).

A special thanks to her granddaughters and faithful caregivers Eitoya Robinson and LaShanna Barnes.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at 11:00 am at Greater St. John’s Church of God in Christ, 74 4th Ave. Albany. Relatives and friends are invited and may also call at the Church prior to the service from 9:00-11:00 am. Interment will follow the service in Graceland Cemetery, Albany.

Those who wish may send donations to the American Cancer Society, 1 Penny Lane, Latham, NY 12110.