Betty Sue Stephens

Betty Sue Stephens, 95, passed into her heavenly home on January 14, 2026. Betty was the third of nine children, born on a farm in Lillington, NC to George Broughton Spence and Lilly Patterson Spence on June 25, 1930.

Her humble beginnings on a farm and the loss of her father as a teenager rooted her character in faith in God, appreciation of family, hard work, and compassion for others. Family was very important to Betty Sue. She enjoyed a loving relationship with all her siblings, who supported each other in their pursuits of education, careers, and starting their own families.

Betty Sue attended Campbell College and transferred to Meredith College, where she received her degree in Education. In her senior year, she met the perfect love of her life, “Tommy” Stephens, through a mutual friend, and they married six months later. This union lasted for sixty-eight years, until Tommy’s death in 2019. Betty Sue served as a beloved elementary school teacher in Forsythe and Wake counties for thirty years, always exhibiting a sweet, kind nature to all fortunate enough to know her. She raised her two daughters to embrace higher education, independent thinking, and to pursue their life passions. Throughout their lives, they benefited from her continuous prayers.

Always an active member of her community and church, she enjoyed many close friends. She and Tommy were founding members of Triangle Baptist Church in 1995, where she served as a deacon. Her favorite exercise was to take long walks in her Greenbrier Estates neighborhood to greet her neighbors. Although she suffered from dementia in the final years of her life, she never lost her memory of her children and siblings or her love of dark chocolate. She continued to treat everyone she encountered with dignity and respect.

She is survived by her brother, Philip Spence (Betty) of Lillington, NC, and daughters, Wanda Stephens (Ron Jungling) of Raleigh, NC and Vicki Stephens of Greenville, NC.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death and now joyfully reunited with her husband, John Thomas Stephens, brothers, James Spence and George Broughton Spence, and sisters, Ruth Cain, Madge Ayscue, Faye Powell, Judy Strickland, and Lottie Newton.

The family expresses their heartfelt appreciation to the outstanding staff at Waltonwood Lake Boone Trail where Betty Sue received excellent care for the last six years of her life.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, February 20, 2026, at 11:30 am at Triangle Baptist Church, 9713 Old Stage Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603. A luncheon at the church will follow the service, where the family will receive visitors.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her name to Triangle Baptist Church, by using the link below, under 'Donations'.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Betty Sue, or a message of condolence for her family, you may do so below, within 'Add a Memory'.