John Augustus Betjeman, Jr. was born on February 9, 1917 in Columbus, Georgia to John A. Betjeman, Sr. and Celeste Wynn Waddell. He was a graduate of Columbus High School in 1934 and of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in 1938. His father passed away expectantly in 1924 while working for the Columbus Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. John Betjeman, Jr. enlisted in the U.S. Army and served overseas in World War II. Upon his return to Columbus, John served as treasurer at the Neal-Gentry Tire Company. He never married and lived with his mother, Celeste. John A. Betjeman, Jr. died on August 20, 974 in Columbus, Georgia and is buried in Linwood Cemetery.

Celeste Wynn Waddell was the daughter of George and Laura Spear Waddell and the sister of Elliott Spear Waddell, Sr. She was born in Columbus, Georgia on November 18, 1883 and died June 10, 1972 in Columbus, Georgia. She is buried along with her son and husband in Linwood Cemetery. John Augustus Betjeman, Sr. was born in 1881 in North Carolina and died June 25, 1924 in Washington, D.C. John Betjeman, Sr. was known locally for bringing Fort Bragg to Columbus and a bridge on the Fort’s campus is named in his honor.