Betty was born on November 13,1933 to the late Herbert and Fannie Lemons Gilbert in Lee Co, VA. She was united in marriage to Staff SGT. Francis E. Wolfe on November 9,1949 in Middlesboro, KY. They were married for 49 years, until his passing in 1999. They resided on their farm in Hancock County, TN along the Powell River, raising tobacco and cattle. Betty also worked at Signal Knitting Mills in New Tazewell for several years.
Betty enjoyed gardening and canning. She baked the best homemade butterscotch, chocolate, and fried apple pies you could ever eat. Her coleslaw was a favorite request at many church functions. Besides her cooking skills, Betty could grow a flower anywhere. She was a member of Lambs Chapel Baptist Church and attended regularly until her health declined.
Although Betty did not have a biological child of her own, she had a “mothering” nature. Betty often told the story that her cousin Sue said if she ever had any kids, she would “share” with Betty. Sue kept her word and in 1974, Betty became a “Godmother”; a title she wore proudly.
Along with her spouse, Betty is preceded in death by her siblings, Mae, Cellie, Jess, Marshall, Lois, Paul White, and Ruby Nell. Special cousins and their spouses whom she always thought of as siblings, Sue and Roger, Garnet and Raymond, Glen and Ruby, Gene, Ike, and Sarah. Godson, Jeff Gibson.
Betty is survived by Goddaughter, Sherri Seabolt Gibson. Cousin who was like a brother, Bill (Nora) Bledsoe SR. Special cousins, Shannon Bledsoe and Ernie. Several nieces, nephews, and a host of relatives and friends.
Betty was an Aunt too many but a friend to All. She will be remembered for her happy, jolly, spirit and kind nature; especially when she would sing “If You Got The Money Honey, I Got The Time”.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the loved ones who came to visit Betty and brought her dinners while she was in the nursing home. As well as a special thanks to the staff at Claiborne Health and Rehab along with the staff at Suncrest Hospice for the care provided and becoming her family.
The family will receive friends on Saturday February 14, 2026, from 12 until 1 PM at Coffey Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at 1PM in the Coffey Funeral Home chapel. A graveside service will follow in the Seabolt-Wolfe Cemetery.
Officiating: Rev. Paul Gilbert Jr., Rev. L.J. Ellis (Obituary), Rev. Jerry Ramsey (Graveside)
Singers: Paul, April, and Asher Gilbert; Terry Keck
Pallbearers: David Gilbert, John Collins, Storm Ramsey, David Bledsoe, Fred McCurry, Jordan Scott, and Wayne Herrell
Honorary Pallbearers: Bill Bledsoe Sr., Shannon Bledsoe, Fred Lane, Rinard Fugate, and Eric Ramsey
