Bettie Heyman

Bettie Heyman, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on May 21, 2021.
A native Texan, Bettie was born on April 8, 1937 to Jacob and Rose Halfant of Galveston. She was preceded in death by her parents as well as by Alfred Nathan Heyman, her beloved husband of almost sixty years. Bettie is survived by her three sons Michael (and Nathalie) Heyman, Paul (and Sheri) Heyman and Lawrence (and Sharon) Heyman; grandchildren Elizabeth (and John) Schiller, Jeffrey Heyman, Olivia Heyman (and fiancé David Flood), Joshua Heyman, Daniel Heyman and Haley Heyman; and great-grandchildren Savannah Schiller and Thomas Schiller. She is also survived by her brother Edward Halfant as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Prior to her marriage to Alfred on June 26, 1955, Bettie was a pre-nursing student at the University of Houston. She and Alfred met on campus and were married six months later. After their marriage, Bettie continued working in the medical field until she left to become a full-time homemaker and mother to their three young children. She later taught pre-school at Congregation Beth Yeshurun’s Beth Hayeled and the Torah Day School.
Bettie and Alfred were active members of Congregation Beth Yeshurun. They sang in the choir and served as Beth Yeshurun Hospital Ambassadors for many years. They were also very active in several Chavurah groups. Bettie and Alfred were both passionate about serving others and especially loved delivering Meals on Wheels together every Monday. Bettie was also an active member of Hadassah and the Beth Yeshurun Sisterhood for many years as well as a Zainfeld BBG Advisor.
Bettie also loved music and theater. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing, whether with the choir, during worship services, around the Shabbat table, while lighting the Hanukkah candles, or as she worked around the house. She especially loved classical music, big bands, crooners and musicals. The sound of her voice would brighten any room or setting she was in. Bettie and Alfred were regular supporters of the Houston Symphony as well as several local theater groups. She was also an accomplished dancer, and loved dancing in the arms of her beloved Alfred throughout their marriage.
But it was her family and Jewish heritage that meant the most to Bettie. While she and Alfred had many friends and greatly enjoyed spending time with them, being with her family was always dearest to her heart. Bettie loved being a mother and served as a Cub Scout Den Leader when her boys were young. And she especially loved being “Bubbie” for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bettie and Alfred regularly attended Shabbat services at Beth Yeshurun. They also both loved celebrating Jewish holidays, especially Friday night Shabbat dinners, lighting the Hanukkah candles and Passover seders.
Bettie had a deep lifelong love for her Jewish heritage, which grew and flourished when she began to learn and understand the Hebrew Scriptures following her adult Bat Mitzvah in 2004.
And just as her beautiful voice would brighten any room she was in, the delicious taste and fragrant aroma of her cooking always brought a sense of warmth and shalom to family gatherings, Shabbat dinners and Passover Seder meals.
Bettie was greatly loved by her family and friends and will be forever missed.