First Lady Betty J. Jakes is a native of Newnan, Georgia. She grew up in her early years in Gainesville, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia and return to Newnan with her family to finish elementary and high school. She matriculated at Knoxville College and Caries School of Cosmetology where she received her degree and became a licensed Cosmetologist.
Betty has shown great interest in the fine arts and has had a brief stint with the theater. For 3 years she has worked with the Ribbons Modeling Agency as a semi-professional model.
She is a motivated and enterprising woman. She started her own hair care business and worked full time for a Fortune 500 company, Kraft Foods, simultaneously for nearly 15 years.
Betty gave her life to Christ in her early twenties and started her journey with God. She has always served in the church, and now has diligently served alongside her husband, Pastor Martin L. Jakes, Sr. for nearly 10 years in ministry.
As she leads the “Ladies of the Light” ministry, it is her heart’s desire to see the women of LWCI and the surrounding communities embrace a life of excellence in their spiritual, personal and professional lives. It is her heart’s desire to see people of all walks of life come into the kingdom of God, and surrender their life to Jesus Christ.
Betty is known for possessing the rare ability to communicate truth with simplicity, common sense, and love. She is also known for her special gift as a culinary enthusiast and thus she leads the Food Service Ministry of Light of the World with precision, passion, and purpose. Her dream one day is to own an agency that feeds children and the aging with quality food which will extend to every part of their lives.
Betty is proud to serve alongside her husband and the love of her life as a team in leading the lost to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. She is the proud step-mother of three young adult sons, Elijah, Martin Jr., and Jonathan.