Date of Passing: August 4, 2025
Memories
Please join the UWPIAA in honoring the memory of Betty Belk—a devoted wife, steadfast partner, and quietly inspiring force behind an extraordinary life shared with her husband, J. Blanton Belk. For over 65 years, Betty stood beside him, as they shaped a legacy of global understanding, compassion, and service.
Living in Tucson, Arizona for decades, both Belks remained deeply engaged in volunteering and sustaining the mission of Up with People.
Betty’s quiet influence echoed through the global initiative. She shared her husband’s belief in music’s power to build bridges across cultures—a belief that underpinned travels around the world, performances at venues from universities to town squares to prisons, and meaningful encounters with world leaders.
Though much of the public spotlight fell upon her husband as founder and chairman, Betty was always the staunch heart at his side—encouraging collaboration, supporting engagement with youth, reminding him of certain names and places, and adding her humor and warmth.
Fewer words have been written about Betty, but it is impossible to imagine the reach and compassion of Up with People without her steady presence and partnership. Every accolade he received—every honor, award, or milestone—was also hers. Their marriage exemplified a life of shared vision: that peace begins with listening, serving, and believing in the good in every young person and the power they have to make a difference.
We remember Betty, whose birthday fell on Halloween, not just as the beloved wife of a visionary, but as a visionary in her own right—quietly powerful, deeply caring, and unwavering in her belief that global community can be built through hope, the performing arts, and service.
Obituary link: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/betty-belk-obituary?id=59253784
