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Civic Leader Betty Chambers Dies At Home In Plant City

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 21, 2008

PLANT CITY - Betty Chambers, an iconic symbol and community leader, died Sunday at her home from lung cancer. She was 86.

"Mother was always there for us," daughter Pec McGinnes said. "She was a giver, to family and friends alike. She never stopped."

Chambers was a sports and fitness enthusiast who was instrumental in establishing a YMCA in Plant City.

The energetic community leader and activist also served as a director emeritus of the Florida Strawberry Festival and initiated the organization's information booth program, which trains more than 400 volunteers each year.

Chambers was a member at the First Baptist Church of Plant City and served as co-chairwoman of its building committee, as well as director of outreach and Bible school.

"She was very straightforward, outspoken and a health fanatic," said First Baptist's pastor, Ron Churchill. "If she ever invited you to go for a walk and you weren't it shape, it could be the biggest mistake of your life. She could walk three miles in a matter of minutes."

It seemed that Chambers always had somewhere to go and something to do.

She was active with the Plant City Woman's Club and was nominated by the group for Plant City's Citizen of the Year, which she won in 2001. She was selected as the grand marshall of the Plant City Youth Parade for her contributions to the area youth.

Chambers was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Chambers Jr., a prominent local physician. She is survived by her three children, Pec McGinnes and Sherrie Mueller, both of Plant City, and Steve Chambers of Tampa.

"When we learned her illness was to be fatal, she helped us plan the funeral," McGinnes said. "She was loving and caring to the end."

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church of Plant City. Visitation will be prior to the service, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

"I saw Betty almost once each week when she became ill," Churchill said. "The last time I saw her was on Friday. She said 'I'll see you,' and gave me a wink. I think she knew she was going. She had great command of her emotions and her life."

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 851-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

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