Betty Hugh Eidt Berdon, 75, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 20, 2016 in Panama City, Florida, after a long illness. She was born August 10, 1940 in Sanatorium, Mississippi, raised in Natchez, Mississippi, and moved to Panama City with her husband and family in 1970. Betty Hugh lived a genuine, active, and beautiful life. She is preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, William Henry Berdon, III ("Billy"); her parents, Clarence Martin Eidt, Sr. and Mary Ernestine Breithaupt Eidt; great aunt, Florence Thelma Breithaupt Eidt; and daughter-in-law, Robin Kathleen Baines Berdon.

Surviving Betty Hugh are her children, Elizabeth Leigh Berdon of Panama City, Florida, William Henry Berdon, IV, of Martinez, Georgia, Martin Broeg Berdon and wife Deneen of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; her grandchildren, Sarah Kathleen Berdon, Elizabeth Anne Berdon, Amanda Nadine Berdon, and Matthew Broeg Berdon; her step grandson, Joseph Justin Nowacki; her brother, Clarence Martin Eidt, Jr. and wife Rosa Lee; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Betty Hugh was a dancer, homecoming candidate, and cheerleader at Cathedral High School in Natchez, where she graduated in 1958. As a member of the Chi Omega sorority, she graduated from Mississippi State University in 1961 with a degree in Commercial Education. She met her husband, Billy, in the early 1960s when they both worked for International Paper Company in Natchez. During her life, Betty Hugh served as a schoolteacher, bookkeeper, and homemaker. In Panama City, she was an active member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and volunteered at Gulf Coast Medical Center. She loved to fish, play golf, and spend time with her family and friends.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 24th, at St. Mary Basilica in Natchez. A graveside service will immediately follow at Natchez City Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Laird Funeral Home in Natchez on Tuesday, February 23rd, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the Berdon family requests that memorial donations be made to Covenant Care, 107 West 19th Street, Panama City, Florida 32405, or American Cancer Society, 4001 West 23rd Street, Suite C, Panama City, Florida 32405.