A local couple’s death in a vehicle crash last week left many people in Middle Georgia in mourning, as well as recalling happy memories.
James “Jim” Abbott, 83, and his 81-year-old wife, Sara “Betsy” Abbott, of Bear Creek Road in Putnam County, succumbed to injuries sustained when they crashed into a pickup truck around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, said Putnam County Sheriff’s Chief of Staff Russell Blenk.
Both had been longtime employees of the Jones County School System.
The pickup, a 2021 Ford F-150 owned by Georgia Power, was driven by Matthew Crumbley, 26, of McDonough. Crumbley was taken by ambulance to a Macon hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening. After his release from the hospital, he was charged Monday, Oct. 27, with failure to yield while turning left and two counts of misdemeanor vehicular homicide, Blenk said.
The Abbotts were traveling eastbound on State Route 16/Sparta Highway, with Betsy Abbott driving their 2018 Ford Flex. As they approached the intersection of Pea Ridge Road and Highway 16, Crumbley was northbound and turned left onto Pea Ridge in front of the Abbotts. The front of the Flex crashed into the front passenger side of the F-150 work truck. Jim Abbott died instantly, according to Putnam County Coroner Hollis Harrison.
A medical helicopter was called for Betsy Abbott; however, she died in the ambulance en route to the helicopter landing zone, Blenk said. Autopsy revealed both victims died of blunt force trauma, Harrison said.
A celebration of life was scheduled before the newspaper’s publication, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at Mulberry Street United Methodist Church in Macon, where the Abbotts were members.
Hart’s Mortuary in Macon handled the arrangements.
Jim Abbott coached girls basketball and tennis, and taught physical education and driver’s education at Jones County High School and Mattie Wells Elementary School for 30 years. He led the basketball and tennis teams to several state titles. Betsy Abbott was the high school secretary for 30 years. The couple lived across the street from the old Jones County High School.
Upon retiring, they moved to a home on Lake Sinclair in Putnam County.
Sherry Deason Gordon, of Gray, was a former coworker and friend of the Abbotts, and is also friends with Toni Harmony, who also taught at JCHS and was close friends with Betsy.
Gordon said the three of them frequently lunched together and shopped together. Another coach found out about the fatal wreck and called Gordon to let her know.
“So, then all of the old coaches and teachers were calling each other to find out what happened because we’re still all like a big family,” Gordon said. “It doesn’t matter where you’re living now, we’re all still family.”
The news was a shock because, although the Abbotts were in their early 80s, they were very much enjoying retirement life, Gordon said. They both loved to travel, and Betsy enjoyed antiquing with friends while Jim enjoyed playing golf and fishing.
Gordon said when she sent the first news article about the fatal wreck to Toni, they were stricken with shock and grief, but both shared the same thought.
“Toni said ‘Betsy is hating it right now because the headline calls her elderly,’” Gordon said.
“I said, ‘Yeah, I can hear her yelling about it now,’” she added with a chuckle.
Jim and Betsy were both highly supportive of all the Jones County athletic teams. Gordon said JCHS hosted a basketball tournament each December during Christmas break. While her husband was coaching, Betsy hosted the hospitality room for all the visiting basketball coaches and staff.
“She loved to entertain at her house, too,” Gordon said. “With her house across the street from the school, she hosted frequent gatherings and little parties for the teachers.”
Jim Abbott was a native of Indiana but later moved to Milledgeville with his family, where he attended Georgia Military College and Georgia College & State University. He also attended Georgia Southern University, the University of Georgia, and Mercer University, according to the obituary.
He remained active with his fellow alumni in “The Gold Brigade” from his time at GMC.
Betsy Abbott was born in Hancock County, graduated from Sparta High School, and attended GCSU, then known as Georgia State College for Women. She met her future husband on a blind date during that time, according to their shared obituary.
“Upon her retirement from JCHS, she found a second calling as the church hostess at Mulberry Street UMC, a role she cherished for more than 20 years,” the obit stated. “Betsy loved to travel and had a deep passion for sharing art, music, and theater.”
Jim and Betsy Abbott were married for 60 years and will be buried together at Jewell Baptist Church cemetery. They are survived by their two sons, Jay Abbott of Sparta, and Chris Abbott of Macon, as well as Jim’s sister, Diane Mathis.