PHOTOS: Remembering Betty Jane France
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR employees sat alongside community leaders. Race team owners shared pews with Betty Jane France’s many, many friends. Her beloved and close-knit family members — including her brother-in-law Jim France, NASCAR Chairman Brian France and his family, and International Speedway Corporation CEO Lesa France Kennedy and her son, Ben — were among the more than 500 people who gathered to wish Betty Jane France a proper and heartfelt farewell.
Anyone driving into Volusia County on Thursday morning surely noticed the prevailing Tropical Storm Hermine clouds often parted in spots revealing blue sky, a fitting natural tribute to one of NASCAR’s brightest personalities.
Richard Petty, Rick Hendrick, Richard Childress, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, sportscar star Hurley Haywood and all of NASCAR’s executives were among those gathered to pay respects to France.
Bouquets of white orchids, lillies, hydrangeas, and roses decorated the church alter, and the calming scent of seeded eucalyptus came from floral arrangements adorning the ends of the pews.
Former Daytona Beach Mayor Glenn Ritchey spoke of France’s great ability to inject humor and bring smiles to her work, yet she always had the ability to “make us feel special.”
Several times he brought the crowded church sanctuary — and nearly 100 others seated in an extra wing watching the service on closed circuit — to laughter, reminiscing about France and her husband, former NASCAR Chairman Bill France Jr. He told the story of how the couple would often find itself waiting in a long line to go up the elevators at Daytona International Speedway.
Track workers offered to escort the Frances around the line, but Betty Jane always refused to get in front of anyone else. Bill France, Ritchey said smiling and drawing laughter, might have politely gone along with his wife’s wishes, but probably would have preferred the short cut.
Several times he used the word, “impact” in describing France’s many contributions. And that was the decided theme injecting Betty Jane France’s sunshine this cloudy Thursday morning.
Brian France also addressed the church and spoke eloquently and lovingly of his mom, reminding, “Her life was a gift to us.’”
He shared the three things that seemed most important to Betty Jane — her family (her marriage, children and grandchildren), her devotion to the local community, and her commitment to the NASCAR community at large.
He graciously thanked all the people for caring and for coming and told the congregation, “we should all be so lucky” to have lived as his mother did.
After the nearly hour-long service at the Seabreeze United Church of Christ, people mulled around, shaking hands, smiling and sharing their Betty Jane stories of generosity and goodwill.
“Betty Jane was charming, beautiful, intelligent and she played her role in NASCAR to perfection,” Waltrip said. “She was the right person to do all she had to do.
“Just a great lady.”
And as the track presidents mingled with business leaders and community members shook hands with Petty and Waltrip, there was a prevailing sense of gratitude to Betty Jane, for all she has done and all she inspires us to do.