Betty Ann Kennedy

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Betty Ann Kennedy (March 13, 1930 – October 30, 2016) was an American bridge player from Shreveport, Louisiana. She learned and studied bridge after suffering encephalitis and depression, following her doctor's advice.

Kennedy teamed up with Carol Sanders from Tennessee, and the pair were known as "the Southern Belles" or simply "The Belles." They won five world championships: four with Sanders in the 1970s and early 1980s, and the Venice Cup in 2003. A notable commentator described Kennedy as a standout in the 2003 final, saying she did virtually nothing wrong.

Kennedy and Sanders together earned 10 North American Bridge Championships wins with 8 runners-up finishes.

Honors and later life:
- In 1993, Kennedy became the second woman inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame.
- She was inducted into the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) Hall of Fame in 2005.
- She received the ACBL’s Sportsmanship Award in 2011.
- Kennedy and her husband, Jack, had four children.

She passed away in Shreveport on October 30, 2016, at age 86 following a fall.

Bridge accomplishments (highlights):
- Venice Cup winner, 2003
- North American Bridge Championships wins: 15 total, including
- Whitehead Women’s Pairs (1993)
- Smith Life Master Women’s Pairs (1990, 2008)
- Machlin Women’s Swiss Teams (1983, 1995, 2002)
- Wagar Women’s Knockout Teams (1978, 1980, 1983, 1987, 2000, 2001, 2009)
- Sternberg Women’s Board-a-Match Teams (1992, 1995)
- Runners-up at North American Bridge Championships in events such as Whitehead Women’s Pairs (1990, 1992), Smith Life Master Women’s Pairs (1971, 1981), Machlin Women’s Swiss Teams (1985, 2000), Wagar Women’s Knockout Teams (1982, 1992, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2010), and Sternberg Women’s BAM Teams (1986, 1991).