Delford Emanuel 'Del' Betsey, 71, passed away at home on April 30 after a brief illness. He was a long time resident of Tampa, Florida. He was born on January 21, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan and spent his early years in Detroit before the family moved to Ann Arbor in 1959. He attended Perry Elementary, Forsythe Junior High, and Ann Arbor (Pioneer) High School. He later attended Washtenaw Community College where he obtained various skill certifications. He had a lifelong thirst for knowledge and enjoyed political and philosophical discussions, often challenging others with his unique point of view. He worked for various manufacturing companies including, Applied Dynamics Incorporated and Sarns/3M, in assembly and quality control of computing and heart-lung machines, respectively, before relocating to Tampa, Florida in the early 1980's; there he worked at Garelick, Mfg. and was self-employed in a company that consulted on private security.

Delford was gregarious and outgoing and enjoyed cars, soul and rhythm and blues music, being with family and friends, and travelling to entertainment venues in Detroit, Chicago and Las Vegas. Like many in his family he enjoyed cooking, especially grilling and barbecuing.

Delford is preceded in death by his mother, Margaret McDaniel Betsey, his father, Howard Farrier, his sister Alice Carter Chappele, brothers Leon Stephens and Earnest Betsey, and former wife Inez.

He is survived by his significant other of many years, Essie Seay of Tampa, as well as his brother Charles (Margaret Simms) of Washington, DC; nephews Clarence Carter of Ann Arbor, Eric Randolph of Washington, DC, Joshua Betsey (Janine) of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Daniel Betsey of Gaithersburg, Maryland; Uncle Calvin McDaniel (Viola ) of Ocala, Florida and Aunt Sallie Sears of Hartford, Connecticut; and his stepdaughters Debra Thomas of Ypsilanti, Michigan and Cheryl Jones of Ann Arbor, Michigan; nieces, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and loving friends and former coworkers. Service to be held at a later date.

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Memorial Service
The Chapel of Hope Aikens Funeral Home Chapel
Saturday, June 27, 2020
10:00 AM
2708 E Dr. MLK Jr.
Tampa, Florida 33610