Betsy (Jennings) Powell

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Betsy was born in Atlanta and raised in Gainesville. After graduating from Gainesville High School in 1967, she attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA, where she earned a B.A., cum laude in Biology in 1971.  This was followed by Certification in Medical Technology through Emory University Hospital in 1972. However, during that year of training at Emory, Betsy realized a deep passion for direct patient care, so she entered Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1972, graduating cum laude in 1976. This was followed by both pediatrics residency and pediatrics fellowship at Vanderbilt Hospital over the next five years.

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       After a rewarding pediatrics practice in various locations over the next two decades, Betsy began to feel a deep pull toward ministry of a different sort.  In 2002 she entered The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York City, graduating in 2005 with an M.Div. cum laude.  Returning back to the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast from NYC, Betsy was ordained priest and served several parishes in both Florida and Alabama over the ensuing years.

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       Betsy has recently retired from full-time parish ministry and has moved back to Gainesville with her husband David, who is also a retired Episcopal priest.  They are both delighted to call Gainesville home.