CElEbRAtiNG LEGAciES - St. Pius X Catholic High School

In Memory of
Elizabeth
Messner
“Sometimes, when we try to define “Pi-Hi spirit,” our words fall short
because so much of what we try to be is never completely achieved.
Instead, we recognize its embodiment in some people.” Mrs. Elizabeth
Messner was the embodiment of that spirit. In addition to the above
quote, Charlene Klister, the longest tenured teacher at St. Pius X, had
the following reflections on Mrs. Elizabeth Messner.“Mrs. Messner
helped to create it and also embodied it, for through her personal and
family contributions, she helped create a place where everyone belongs,
a place where we try to build community based on faith, commonality,
and hard work. Mrs. Messner was a great, devoted Pi-Hi mom.
Whether she was attending parent meetings to plan the academic
direction of the school or athletic competitions or working on various
activities, she contributed acceptance and kindness, laughter, and
practical common sense.”
Elizabeth “Bettie” Barnes Messner was born May 5, 1918 in Fayetteville,
Ark. She graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1938 with a
B.A. in Journalism and continued her support of the Razorbacks as
an avid fan and a 70-year active member of the Arkansas Alumni Association.
While attending Arkansas, she was elected the first woman
Business Manager of the student newspaper and president of Pan Hellenic.
During the years her husband, Captain Messner, was overseas,
Bettie served with the National Catholic Community Services and the
USO at Camp Robinson in Little Rock, Ark.
She moved to Atlanta in 1959 where her six children graduated from
Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Pius X High School. While a parent
at St. Pius she and her husband had an affinity for the school’s faculty.
Mrs. Barabara Carter, a math teacher at St. Pius X for thirteen years,
fondly remembers Elizabeth. “ The Messner’s made it worthwhile teaching
because they were so supportive of the faculty.” Barbara taught all
of the Messner children during her time at St. Pius X.
At her funeral service Msgr. Lopez
expressed his view of Elizabeth.
“She was one of the “heroes of goodness.”
That is in our culture we have
“famous” people, but not necessarily
“good” people as celebrities. She
made religion and goodness charming
and attractive.”
As a 50-year member of Immaculate
Heart of Mary Church, she was a Girl
Scout troop organizer and leader, worked with the St. Vincent de Paul
Society, and was awarded Church Woman of the Year. She also gave
of her time to Villa International Atlanta where she served on the
Board, later as Board Member Emeritus, and received the Lifetime
Achievement Award.
Elizabeth “Bettie” Barnes Messner, age 91, of Atlanta, died September
17, 2009. She leaves her loving children Mary ’64 and Lee Granger,
George II ’66 and Lynn Messner, Anne ’68 and Mike Leach, Till ’69
and Ron Cartwright, Mike ’71 and Jenny Messner, Molly ’74 and
Jeff Lane; her grandchildren, Gary, Karen, David, Katie, Sara, Mary
Granger; Amy, Elizabeth, Michael, Emily, Rebecca Leach, George
III, Robbie, Rebecca Messner; and George ’06 and Jeff ’08 Lane; and
eight great grandchildren.
“Bettie was a woman of faith and prayer. And she gave us wonderful
children, having passed on to each of them her ability to give self in
service of community. The tradition of parental dedication that she
helped begin has continued to be an abiding characteristic strength of
our school. So often when I see today’s parents helping out, I think of
Mrs. Messner and thank God for her,” Charlene Klister.