Born in Richmond, she was the adopted daughter of the late Bessie Rogers Wilder. Betty Jane graduated from the University of Richmond and then earned her Masters of Arts degree from Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. She was a retired teacher of U.S. history and government in Virginia high schools.
She served as Director of the Lynchburg Baptist Association Woman’s Missionary Union and Mission Study Director of the Fredericksburg Baptist Association Woman’s Missionary Union. Betty Jane totally supported her husband and his ministry, teaching Sunday school, VBS and Mission study classes, playing the organ or piano and serving as church secretary in three Virginia churches.
She is survived by her daughter, Susan Anderson Lipscomb and her husband Vinnie; four grandsons, Jaime Rodriguez, Jr. and wife Catherine, Michael Hensley, Bradley Hensley and wife Kara and Drew Hensley and wife Summer; 11 great grandchildren; three nieces and one nephew.
A service celebrating her life will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at the First Baptist Church in Monroe with the Rev. Glynn Coleman, the Rev. Norman Ryan and the Rev. Dwayne Martin officiating. Interment will follow in Amherst Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 17, 2019 at Whitten Monelison Chapel.
Those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider the First Baptist Church of Monroe.
