Betty K. Whitley | Eastern NC Now

Born: November 01, 1935, Died: December 11, 2014

    Mrs. Betty Keech Whitley, age 79, a resident of 5085 Sidney Road, Belhaven, NC died Thursday December 11, 2014 at Vidant Beaufort Hospital in Washington.

    A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Sunday December 14, 2014 at Free Union Free Will Baptist Church of Pinetown. Burial will follow in the Yeatesville Cemetery.

    The family will receive friends 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday December 13, 2014 at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington and other times at the home.

    Mrs. Betty was born in Beaufort County on November 1, 1935 daughter of the late Albert Joseph Keech, Sr. and the late Madeline Wilson Webster Keech. She was a 1954 graduate of Pantego High School and continued her education at the Free Will Baptist College in Nashville, TN, now known as Welch College. On December 31, 1954 she married Luke C. Whitley who survives. Their union of almost sixty years carries a legacy of love and commitment to their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Their devotion to each other, especially in the latter years, has been a living model of sacrifice and support. Later, she earned her degree in cosmetology and was owner and operator of Betty's Beauty Shop at her home. Her gifts of helping others feel and look beautiful allowed her to have a special connection with her customers. Mrs. Betty was very active in her church, Free Union Free Will Baptist Church, where she was a Sunday School teacher for almost sixty years. She organized the children's church and thrived on making Jesus fun to learn about, and experience his love and grace. Conveying the spunky, determined, and spirited personality of our mother is difficult to encapsulate with words. As a strong prayer warrior, she humbled herself before God and others, and understood that Christianity did not end at home. By "living out" these Christian values, ideals, and principles with consistency, faithfulness, and humor our lives have been enriched in a greater understanding of the abundant love of our Heavenly Father.

    Surviving along with her husband are two daughters: Sharon W. Morris and her husband Dennis of Bath and Tammy W. Harris and her husband Roger of Carrollton, VA; two sisters: Eleanor K. Cutler and her husband Leroy of Jacksonville, FL and Carolyn K. Cuthrell of Grantsboro; four grandchildren: Justin Chacy Morris and his wife Maria of Greenville, Courtney Morris Newberry and her husband Jackson of Snow Hill, Luke Douglas Harris of Carrollton, VA and Emily Grace Harris of Carrollton, VA; a great granddaughter: Madeline Brett Newberry, and was expecting her second great granddaughter in February. Mrs. Betty was predeceased along with her parents by two brothers: Albert J. Keech, Jr. and Gerald Gene Keech. The family would like to express their thanks and gratitude to the special caregivers that provided love, devotion, humor, and fortitude to our mother during her last months: Ms. Donna Murphy and Ms. Georgette Burris of Golden Way Home Care.

    Flowers are welcome and appreciated and the family kindly requests for any memorial contributions to be made to Free Union Free Will Baptist Church, Children's Ministry, 4961 Free Union Church Road, Pinetown, NC 27865.

    Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve Mrs. Betty's family.