Mary E. "Betty" Stevens

Mary E. “Betty” Stevens, 83, died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her loving children on May 3, 2016. She was born in Plainfield, New Jersey on June 2, 1932 to Francis and Elizabeth Mooney Cartwright. She graduated from St. Luke’s School of Nursing in New York City. After graduation she was married to Romer Stevens Jr on April 4, 1953 and they welcomed the birth of the first of five children the following year. Their first years of marriage were spent in Plainfield, NJ followed by a move to Warminster, PA in 1959, the birth of their fifth child in 1961 and then one last move to the warmth and sunshine of Raleigh, NC in 1968. Betty worked as a Registered Nurse and Family Planning Nurse Practitioner and was the Women’s Health Manager at Wake County Health Department for 25 years. She was a proud and dedicated member of North Raleigh United Methodist Church for over 40 years where she taught Sunday School, was a member of the Stephen Ministry and had a profound impact on those who attended her bible study classes. She taught the Sonrise Sunday School class for many years, she was a leader in the Bible Application Class ministry for over 20 years and when she was no longer able to participate in BAC, she began a Saturday morning Bible Study in her home. Serving the Lord through teaching was her mission and great joy. She will be missed by many!

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Romer Stevens Jr. (died February 2009); and sister-in-law, Muriel Hillenbrand; and brother-in-law, Charlie Hillenbrand.

She is survived by her five children, Karen Wood and husband, Stan, of Raleigh, Jay Stevens and wife, Patience, of Cary, Emily Thieman of Raleigh, Lisa Stevens of Lake Waccamaw, and Eric Stevens and wife, Cristina, of Raleigh; 10 grandchildren, Jennifer and husband, Richard, Daniel and wife, Antigone, Joshua, Jacob, Matthew, Eric, James, Luke, Timothy, and Alex; great grandchildren, Nolan and Sophia; sister, Barbara Russell and husband, Jim, of Surf City, NJ; numerous nieces; and a nephew.

The family will receive friends from 6:30-9:00 pm on Sunday, May 8, 2016 at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 E. Millbrook Road, Raleigh 27609.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday, May 9, 2016 at North Raleigh United Methodist Church, 8501 Honeycutt Rd, Raleigh 27615. The family will receive friends immediately after the service.

Private graveside service and interment will be held at Raleigh Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Betty to Zoe (www.zoehelps.org) or North Raleigh United Methodist Church.

Condolences may be sent through: www.brownwynne.com