Betty Marie Miles, 67, of Jena, passed from this life at the LaSalle Nursing Home in Jena on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, following a 30-year courageous battle with multiple sclerosis.
She was born March 26, 1953 in Jena to the union of her parents, Milton and Audrey Miles.
Betty graduated from Jena High School in 1971. She was licensed in 1972 by the Alexandria Academy of Beauty Culture in Alexandria, and in 1977, received her degree in journalism from Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe.
During the summer of 1976, Betty served as a reporter for her hometown newspaper – The Jena Times - while completing requirements for NLU journalism curriculum.
While in college, she served on the staff of the Pow Wow, NLU’s campus newspaper. After working for a year at Paula’s Educational Supplies she joined the staff of the South Towne Courier in Shreveport, where she served as news editor.
In August 1979, Betty was employed by the Opelousas Daily World as a staff writer and features coordinator. Her duties there included covering Evangeline Parish city governmental meetings, re-writing stories, writing headlines and cutlines, and was responsible for the Sunday edition feature page.
After one year in Opelousas, Betty returned to her hometown to accept a position as reporter and photographer for The Jena Times. A few years after beginning at The Jena Times, she developed multiple sclerosis. Betty continued to work as she battled the disease, but was forced to retire in June 1989 at the young age of 36. Over the next several years, Betty would take assignments for special features for the newspaper.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Ricky Miles.
Survivors include one sister, Anne Miles Roark and husband Kenneth of West Monroe; a sister-in-law, Billie Miles of Belah; and several nieces and nephews, and a host of cousins and friends.
Local arrangements were entrusted to Kinner and Stevens Funeral Home of Jena.
The family request memorial donations be made to the National MS Society, P.O.Box 91891, Washington, DC 20090-1891; or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.