Bethtenia Latkins

A seed was planted in Soperton, Georgia, that seed opened early on January 1, 1966, in Los Angeles, CA to Connie Foster and Luther Williams Jr.

Bethtenia received her education from LAUSD, graduating from Manual Arts High School in 1984. She went on to further her education at West LA College.

Many can recall her following her papa to church every Sunday. She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Freedom Missionary Baptist Church. As a child growing up she was involved in various auxiliaries, the youth choir and youth usher board. In 1988, she moved her membership to the Living Gospel Church. She worshipped under the late Bishop & Founder, Bishop P.H. Jefferson, current overseer Bishop D.L. Jones, and she was currently pastored by Pastor E.A. Jones. Always willing to work when called upon, she was an adult usher (Usher of The Year 2012), kitchen worker, and she tried to assist in all areas of the church (Parking lot crew if she could).

She served the public and community as an employee of the County of Los Angeles Assessor's office starting in 1985 as a student worker, where she worked and was then promoted up the ladder to her current position as Staff Assistant. Bethtenia participated in many programs while working for the assessor: the March of Dimes Walk, Revlon Breast Cancer Walk, blood donor, Black History program and a LA County poll worker for many years. She often went above and beyond what was expected of her while working.

On July 1, 1989 she married Vince Andre' and to this union two beautiful children were born: Mikayla Andrea (1998) and Vince Andre' II (2004).

When God called Bethtenia to rest, there were many areas that peaked her interest: Listening and being with the elderly (especially Papa & Grandma; she loved to hang out with them, those were her road dawgs), working with kids (not necessarily her own), being with her cousins, whether it was at Uncle Roe and Auntie Sherry's house in Riverside, papa and grandma's house in the hood, or in Georgia at various relatives houses. Angie, Terry, Bridget, Evette, TMac, Felicia, Bobby, Daryl, Michelle, Keisha Mae, Kelby Jr., Kaneesha, Nick, Cubby, Morgan, Travis, Anderson, and cousin Brian, WOW!!! What a time we had.

And we can’t forget about her favorite teams. Anybody that has come in contact with her knows that the Los Angeles Lakers were at the top of her list. She had no problem displaying or letting you know who her teams were. Old school showtime Lakers (Magic is her all time favorite) but in her heart there was Kobe. Then there’s America’s football team, the Dallas Cowboys. Her favorite Tony Dorsett and crew, and now past player Ezekiel Elliott and crew. Let’s not forget the Los Angeles Dodgers, no particular favorite player.

There were two special joys that she loved: working in the church serving God’s people and volunteering where she could. She would always chaperone an event or trip, donate or assist in whatever was going on, a parade, train ride to the mission, snacks at a football game, trip to Washington D.C., youth retreat to Texas, the malls, restaurants, the list goes on and on. She had a heart to love and give of herself.

II Corinthians 9:7 speaks of being a cheerful giver. Bethtenia was a giver to her family, friends, church family, coworkers, and community. She enjoyed giving from the heart and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Embracing Bethtenia’s love in our hearts will be her husband Vince Latkins; children: Mikayla and Vince II; God daughter, De’Aundra Givens; mother, Connie Foster; father, Luther Williams Jr.; granddaughter, Kiya Bedford; grandsons, Caiden Bedford and Kache Bedford; brother, Caine Turner (Rita); stepbrother and stepsisters: Derrick Williams, O’Neita (Larry) Johnson of Dublin, GA, Keisha Ellis and Angela (Brett) Lawyer of Moreno Valley, CA; mother-in-law, Bettye Latkins of Los Angeles, CA; aunts and uncles: Beathyaroe (Sherry) Cummings of Riverside, CA, Margaret (Elverette) Love Sr. of Soperton, GA, Alberta (Connelley) Moore, Jacquelyn Ordone, Janice “Nanny” Cummings of Los Angeles, CA, and Tyler Bedford; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Michael (Vernette) McBride, Kevin (Christy) Reeves, Anita Walker, Stephanie Latkins, and Sam Latkins, Jr.; three sand-box friends: Monique Crow, Marlene Jefferson, and Anna Wynne; two special god-given daughters: Christina Udo and Jazmyn Williams; spiritual mothers: Willie Mix and Sarah Shelton; godsister: Carolyn Mix-Lee; godbrothers: Elder Lafayette Shelton and Elder Isaac Walker, Jr.; special circle of diva sisters: Delores Moore, Mary Pearson, Cynthia Kingwood, Sherry Scott, Lakeva Gill, Cherron Cordier, Beverly Moore, Kay North, Freda Hardy, Helena Wolfe, Kim Mallory, Monica Mallory, Tesia Wilson, Lisa Martin, Keitha Culpepper, Lee Walker, Myeko Smith and Timyia Smith; 7 nephews, 8 nieces, 8 great nieces, 5 great nephews, and a host of cousins, friends, and her family at the Living Gospel Church.

On March 26, 2025, Bethtenia was called home to be with the Lord. She is preceded in death by her papa, Elder Charlie V. Cummings; grandma, Ida Mae Cummings; grandmother, Elizabeth Williams; brother, “Skeet” Marlon LaRon Turner; great uncle, Samuel Cummings; great aunt, Mattie Cummings; and the Diva herself of the circle of Diva sisters, Sharon Jones.