Betty Sue Duty

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Betty Sue “Plum” Duty of Chester, MD. Betty was 79 years old when she passed on Friday, June 7. The second daughter of J. Willard and Eva “Kisamore” Plum, Betty was born on January 18, 1939, and spent her early years in Parsons, WV. Her parents known as Paw-Paw & Maw-Maw, and older sister moved between Parsons and Morgantown, WV, and Newport News, VA, before settling in the Silver Spring, MD area. Shortly after graduation from Montgomery Blair High School, she married William H. “Bill” Duty, Jr., (deceased) and settled in the Olney, MD area. Bill & Betty proceeded to have seven children – Mary Beth Young (Donald), William H. “Butch” Duty, III (Janice), John A. Duty, Sr. (Jeannie), Carol Duty McGraw (Mark), Michael H. Duty-deceased (Kay), James Christopher Duty, and J. Scott Duty. When her husband, Bill, got a job on the “new” Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the family relocated to Kent Island and the seeds of “Dutyville” began. During those early years on Main Street in Stevensville, then to Harbor View in Chester, she was active in the community as a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts, attended the Kent Island Methodist Church, supported the PTA in local schools and the many sports leagues and clubs her 7 children participated. Later in life she became long-term companions with Captain Walter Irving Maddox (deceased) of Charles County, MD. Betty and “Pop-Pop” Walter made a wonderful life together at her home on Crab Alley Drive for almost 30 years. Betty worked as a legal secretary and office support staff before becoming the Administrator of The Maryland Waterman’s Association. For three decades she advocated for the commercial fisherman of MD before retiring about ten years ago. During her tenure, she served on many governmental committees and tirelessly worked with many elected officials and the Department of Natural Resources in managing the harvests from the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac Rivers. For many years she produced the East Coast Commercial Fisherman and Aquaculture Trade Expo held every winter in Ocean City, MD; served tens of thousands from the MD seafood stand at the Maryland State Fair; and the Chesapeake Appreciation Days festival held at Sandy Point State Park. One of her proudest achievements was the “Watermen in the Classroom” initiative that educated middle school aged children about what it means to be a waterman. In addition to her children, she is survived by her sister, Jo Anne “Plum” Keister; eight grandchildren, 8eight great-grandchildren, and seven nephews and nieces. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 14, 2018, from 5-7 p.m. with a service at 7 p.m. at the Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A. in Chester, MD. In lieu of flowers, make a donation in her name tothe ALS Association, Gift Processing Center, PO Box 37022, Boone, IA 50037-0022 or the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, 1610 Main Street, Chester, MD 21619.

Betty Sue Duty

January 18, 1939 - June 7, 2018