Elizabeth Betty Lewis

Betty Lewis Obituary
Elizabeth “Betty” Lanier Lewis, 87, died peacefully at her home on December 17, 2023. Betty, the youngest child and only daughter of Ed and Linda Lanier, was born in Edgecombe County on July 9, 1936. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ray; her daughter, Martha Lewis Martin; her great-granddaughter, Adelyn Jane McGee; and her brothers Carlton, Henry, Horace, and Timothy. She is survived by her sons and their wives, Pender and Becky Lewis and Tim and Lisa Lewis; her daughters and their husbands, Kathy and Donald Boswell and Lori and Ron Day; her grandchildren, Kristen Boswell Coggin, Lauren Boswell McGee, Kathryn Boswell, Drew Martin, Stan Lewis, Meagan Martin, Tyler Martin, Bailey Lewis, Elaine Day, Amelia Lewis, and Alex Day; five grandchildren-in-law; nine great-grandchildren; her brother and his wife, Ted and Peggy Lanier; and several nieces and nephews.

Betty was a lifelong resident of Edgecombe County. She grew up in a loving home and, after graduating from West Edgecombe High School in 1954, devoted her early adult years to raising her five children. She later went to nursing school at Edgecombe Community College and proudly established Edgecombe HomeCare & Hospice, which she led for over 20 years. One of her greatest professional accomplishments was being asked to serve as a leader on the Edgecombe County Task Force in the wake of Hurricane Floyd in 1999, an experience she was invited to present at a national conference and chronicled in a 2001 article in Home Care Provider.

Aside from her family and career, both of which she dearly loved, Betty enjoyed cheering on the Yankees, playing Scrabble and cards, and spending time with her dog, Buddy. She was also a steadfast presence in her community. For many years, she was a proud Republican on the Edgecombe County Board of Elections and served on the Edgecombe County Council on Aging. She was a lifetime member of West Edgecombe Baptist Church, where she served as one of the first female Deacons, spent many years as the Director of Sunday School, and established the Hanging of the Greens, an annual Christmas tradition.

Betty’s family is grateful to Joyce Grant, Patricia Mulreany, and Dr. Doug Boyette and the staff of Nash UNC Hospice and Palliative Care for the compassionate care she received in her final days.

A Celebration of Life will be held at West Edgecombe Baptist Church on Thursday, December 21. Visitation will begin at 1:00, and the service will begin at 2:00. A private burial will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to West Edgecombe Baptist Church or the March of Dimes for Team Adelyn’s Hope. Contributions to the Church may be mailed to 13821 NC-43, Rocky Mount, NC 27801. March of Dimes contributions may be mailed to 2600 North Edgewater Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28303 or made online at https://www.marchforbabies.org/AdelynJane.

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