Elsie "Bette" Elizabeth Braxton

Mrs. Elsie Elizabeth “Bette” Braxton, age 98, a resident of Auburndale, Florida passed away Saturday, February 25, 2023 at her home with family by her side. Bette was born March 13, 1924 in Arlington, Virginia to Henry S. and Sadye (Stowell) Coe, Sr. Bette was an Auburndale resident since 2018, arriving here from her previous home in The Villages. She began her career in Washington, D.C. working for TWA Airlines, eventually becoming the Office Manager of the TWA office located near the White House and Lafayette Park. It was during that time that she met her husband “Norm” at the Mayflower Hotel on a blind date. Norm was in the Army, assigned to Japan as part of our military government during reconstruction after WWII. Bette traveled to Japan to join Norm where they were married. After marrying, she became Secretary to the Commanding Officer. When they returned to Virginia, Bette worked for the Dept. of Agriculture and soon after she worked at the Pentagon for the Chief of Naval Operations. Her next job was Secretary to the Credit Manager of Snow Crop in Dunedin, FL, with Norton working upstairs in the Transportation Department. From there they moved to Seattle and then again to Dallas where she was hired as the Secretary to the Sales Manager of the 3M Company Industrial Adhesives Coatings & Sealers Division. Their next move brought them to Orlando where Bette worked for the State Attorney, then for Geartner Associates and then for the Condev Corporation in Winter Park. Bette and Norm then moved to Leesburg, FL where they operated their own real estate firm, New South Realty for many years. Bette and Norm were married 68 years. She was a member of St. Albans Episcopal Church in Auburndale. Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband in 2015 – Norton “Norm” Ormond Braxton; brothers – Henry “Buddy”, Evan and her sister Ruth. Bette is survived by her 3 sons, John Braxton of Auburndale, FL, Carter Braxton (Kham Sourignamath) of Orlando, FL and Scott Braxton (Brenda Ballard) of Dearborn, MI. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, March 11th at St. Albans Episcopal Church, 202 Pontotoc St, Auburndale, FL 33823. The church has asked that flower deliveries be delivered to Kersey Funeral Home, 108 Lake Stella Drive, Auburndale, FL 33823 (863) 967-1167. Interment will follow at 1:00 pm at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park, 2860 Sunset Point Road, Clearwater, FL 33759 (727-796-1992)