Betty S. Stephens

Betty S. Stephens was known as many things to many people. She was a loved one, a friend, and someone special. To family and friends who knew her best, Betty will be remembered as a very exceptional person.

Betty was born July 27, 1942 in Greensboro, North Carolina to Arie and Bertha Goins. She was raised with two siblings, an older sister, Ola, and a brother, Bobby. She and her siblings experienced rivalries typical of a growing family, but they shared many life experiences over the years. As a young girl, Betty had a number of interests. Like most children, she enjoyed playing and making up games. She was curious about the world around her and was often eager to explore it. She was an active child who enjoyed home economics. To Betty, the most fun to be had was simply playing and spending time with her friends.

A typical teenager, Betty had a fairly happy high school experience, making that critical transition from adolescence to adulthood. She graduated from Dudley High School in 1960 and her favorite class in high school was home economics. Betty enjoyed her college years, which may have been a challenge with all of the academics, responsibilities, and the sudden freedom that accompanied them, but Betty was able to manage the balancing act. She attended University of North Carolina A & T. Her favorite course was English and she continued her love of home economics.

Always considered a “good” friend to those she knew, Betty enjoyed a broad group of acquaintances and several very close friends during her lifetime.

On December 30, 1961 Betty exchanged wedding vows with John Stephens in the chapel of Altus AFB in Altus, Oklahoma. Empathic and loyal, Betty was committed to making her new family happy. She worked hard to be a good mother to her children and she did her best to fulfill their needs. Betty was blessed with one son, John C. Stephens, and one daughter, Natasha L. Stephens. Another blessing for Betty was the gift of three grandchildren, Kamaria Steele, Alysa Stephens and Ethan Richmond.

Fortunately, Betty enjoyed what she did for a living. Showing a strong work ethic, Betty worked diligently and did her best to succeed in her career. Her primary occupation was a supervisor in the dining hall at Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska. She was employed with System Parking - Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado and Stewart AFB in New York. Betty always sought to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.

Betty enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were playing Pinochle, Bingo, and Trouble, and she loved cooking. Her favorite food to cook while entertaining was steak and gravy with rice and green beans, fried catfish with french fries and coleslaw, fried chicken and collard greens, cakes and pies, peach cobbler, and her famous apple turnovers. SHE WAS THE BEST COOK TO HIT THE KITCHEN!! She was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following her favorite events whenever she had the chance to do so. Tops on her list were watching football, Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune, and soap operas. She was content to enjoy her favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Betty’s faith was important to her. She was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina while growing up. During that time, she was a member of the choir and an usher.

Betty enjoyed traveling and time away on vacations. It was a chance for her to renew and relax, to visit new places and experience new things. Favorite vacations included Alaska, North Carolina, and Hawaii.

Betty was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. Her favorites were Amber and Pepper, her Pomeranians. They were best friends for three years.

Her new life involved relocating with her husband to Las Vegas, Nevada. Betty continued to stay in touch with her old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. Betty was active in her new community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities afforded to her.

Betty passed away on February 16, 2019 at her home surrounded by her family after fighting a tough battle with Alzheimer's disease. She is survived by her husband John H. Stephens, Jr.; son John C. Stephens; daughter, Natasha L. Stephens; and grandchildren, Kamaria Steele, Alysa Stephens and Ethan Richards. Services were held at Palm Southwest Mortuary, Las Vegas, Nevada. Betty was laid to rest at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City, Nevada.

Simply stated, Betty was a good and kind person, an individual who will for all time be remembered by her family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Betty leaves behind her a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life she touched will always remember Betty S. Stephens.