Bettie (Yamalaki) Kidder

Bettie Y. Kidder, 90 of Fayetteville passed away on Wednesday, September 8, 2021.

Mrs. Kidder was a very active member of Highland Presbyterian Church where she served as both an elder and a Stephen Minister. She was a member of the Flora MacDonald Garden Club, the Art League, the Chaminade Music Club and served 6 years on the Board of Directors of the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Her favorite past time was playing her piano.

Mrs. Kidder graduated form Maury High School in Norfolk, Virginia and attended William and Mary College-Norfolk; subsequently, she went to work for the U.S. State Department-Foreign Service in cryptography. She was assigned to American Embassies all around the globe; Paris, France; Saigon, South Vietnam; Mexico City, Mexico; and Havana, Cuba. The latter Mrs. Kidder was assigned there to close the Embassy code room because of the break in relations with Fidel Castro. She represented the U.S. State Department at conferences in Wellington, New Zealand; Panama City, Panama; and Bogota, Columbia. In 1963 she concluded the Foreign Service and returned to the State Department in Washington, D.C.

Mrs. Kidder also worked numerous jobs in the private sector after leaving the State Department including the American Pharmaceutical Association, the Institute for Defense Analysis, System Planning Corp., and Americans for Energy Independence.

In 1983, Bettie married Col. James D. Kidder. Jack preceded her in death in 2000. Bettie’s sisters also preceded her in death; Anne Devoles in 2006; Sylvia Nicholls in 1994 and Helen Driscoll in 1981.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, September 13, 2021 at 2 p.m. at Highland Presbyterian Church Columbarium.

 Arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, N.C. 28301

Online condolences may be made at www.jerniganwarren.com

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