Betty Lee Blake

COLUMBIA - Betty was born Betty Margaret Lee on January 30, 1928, in Asheville, NC. Her parents were Richard Crawley "Dick” Lee and Lucy “Kate” Rogers Lee. In 1932, she welcomed her only sibling, a younger brother, Philip, into the family. Her early childhood years were spent in western North Carolina and northwestern South Carolina as her father pursued work during the depression.

These early lean years taught Betty the value of family and hard work. Although poor, the family was blessed with a mother and father who worked tirelessly to provide a better life for their children. Lean times with many sacrifices were the norm. During particularly hard times, Betty’s mother would take the children home to her parents in Andrews, NC.

During these times, Betty inherited her lifelong affection for the North Carolina mountains from her father. A true renaissance man, Dick was at home in the wilderness and passed this passion to both his children. When Betty grew up and started her own family, western North Carolina was a frequent vacation destination. Her only attempt at poetry was on Mt. Pisgah, NC.

Betty spent the war years in Charleston, SC, as her father worked in the transportation of munitions and supplies to the naval base. Even at her young age, Betty worked in accounting at the naval base. Much afraid, she caught the bus downtown and rode out to the base for her work. She also remembers having to cut out all lights at night due to the threat of German U-boats.

After the war, the family again found itself in Greenville where Betty graduated from high school. Business College was next as she found herself, in most classes, the only female surrounded by war veterans on the GI bill. Accounting was and has always been her profession and after graduation she began working for various accounting firms in Greenville.

While intelligent, at this point in her life Betty was quite naive. One incident stands out in which she was assigned to audit the books of a local motel. She was aware that this place was in a rough section of town and tended to be somewhat run down, but she dutifully pursued her assignment. Upon returning to her office, she told her boss that something was seriously wrong with this establishment as they were making far too much money. She pointed to the ledger and said “see, it just doesn’t make any sense, they are renting the same room 6-7 times a day for the same price!”

About this time, Betty attended a USO dance in Greenville and met Brent Blake, an Air Fore NCO from Baltimore. A courtship began and the two were married. Betty was instrumental in “tutoring” Brent through Furman University. Betty then settled in to pursue her career in accounting. They scrimped and saved, moving up to a larger home and in 1958 Betty took the unusual step for a woman and branched out and started her own accounting firm.

Betty and Brent unsuccessfully tried for years to have their own child. In 1964 they decided to adopt a baby and welcomed their only child, Brian, into the family. The laws at the time stated that Betty must give up her business in order to be eligible to adopt. However shortly after the adoption, the law was reversed, and Betty went back to the accounting business.

In 1966, Betty and the family moved to Columbia where she and Brent went into business with her brother, Philip, and his wife, Johngy. Together the four started Lee Transport Equipment - a truck body and truck equipment company. Many lean years with modest salaries followed, with Betty keeping the books without the benefit of help, computers, or even an office to use.

Betty managed to keep the business on solid financial footing while raising a child and caring for her elderly mother. Upon their move to Columbia, Betty’s family joined Shandon United Methodist where she remained all her life. The church has seen her son’s wedding and granddaughter’s christening. Betty had been an active member of the faith community throughout her life.

Betty suffered the loss of her father in 1963, her mother in 1986, her brother in 1996, and her beloved husband, Brent, in 2002. Through good and bad times Betty relied on her faith and family to see her through. Since retiring from the business in 1996, Betty kept busy with many interests. She traveled the world including trips to Hawaii, England, Scotland, Canada, France, Germany, Alaska and Italy. She divided her time between church, travel and family.

Betty passed away at 93 on May 21, 2021. A service will be held Friday, May 28 at 10 a.m. in Woodridge Memorial Park in Lexington with burial to follow. Survivors include a son, Brian C. Blake, daughter-in-law, Tammy M. Blake, grandchildren, Erica Nicole Blake, Christopher Collin Blake, Richard Blair Cogburn, and sister-in-law, Margaret Blake.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com