Betty Ruth Carver Black, age 72, a life long resident of the Reliance Community, passed away Wednesday, September 20, 2006 in a Chattanooga hospital. She was a member of Fairview Baptist Church in Reliance. She was a former employee of American Uniform. Mrs. Black was the daughter of the late Joe and Mandy Shell Carver and was also preceded in death by her brother, Junior Carver.

She is survived by her husband of fifty years, Lester Black of Reliance; four children and spouses: Ricky and Sandy Black of Reliance, David Black of Reliance, Debbie and Ray Watson of Riceville and Edna Wilcox of Reliance; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two brothers: Bud Carver and Harold Carver both of Benton; four sisters: Grace Webb of Tellico, Gene Wilcox of Reliance, Ailene Wilcox of Benton and Florine Jenkins and husband David of Cleveland; several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at the Fairview Baptist Church with Reverend Bobby Green officiating. Interment will follow in the Fairview Baptist Church Cemetery with the white dove release ceremony concluding the service.

Her family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Higgins Funeral Home.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Black family guestbook at www.higginsfuneral.com.