Mary Elizabeth Rill

Betsy Laws Rill entered the Kingdom of Heaven on May 11 after a near decade battle with Progressive Bulbar Palsy (PBP), and later complications from a stroke that occurred a few weeks ago on Easter Sunday.

Born on February 18, 1933, Betsy was 84 when she passed in the comfort of her home in Potomac, spending her final few weeks with family. She was alert to the end, and able to share time with her family a peaceful, sacred space up through her final few breaths, accompanied by her beloved husband of nearly 60 years, James Rill, her sons, James Jr ("Jimmy" of Darnestown) and Derick (of Herndon), as well as her daughters-in-law, Mary and Carolyn. She loved nature, her family, friends, attending church and social gatherings - especially a good party - the family pets, flowers and good food. Throughout her life, she felt closest to Heaven at her 18th century country home in Round Hill, Va., known as the "Little Fortress". Bright, vivacious and cheerful with a quick wit and warm smile, Betsy played the "Mom" role for many people through the years, regularly opening up her home for months at a time to dozens of her sons' friends as well as her nieces and nephews, and she was particularly loving and proud of her grandchildren: Jimmy's sons, Jake (27) and Mack (23); and Derick's sons, Stephen (21), Bennett (who preceded Betsy in passing in 2013 at age 14), and Colin (13).

Aside from her family, her passions included gardening, playing tennis, bird-watching and attending sporting events as well as musicals, operas and movies. An avid sports fan, Betsy graduated from the University of Alabama in 1956, and she reveled in her alma mater's recent football championships, watching pretty much all of their games decked out in Crimson Tide outfits. She loved going to games, and highlights included attending Alabama's national championship Sugar Bowl win in 1984. Also a fan of DC sports teams, she saw the Redskins' Super Bowl XVII victory in Pasadena. She relished family trips, enjoying international adventures to Scotland, Italy, France, Mexico, the Bahamas, and she especially loved annual treks that the family made to Bermuda. The daughter of Nancy MacLeod Laws and Chief Judge Bolitha James Laws of Chevy Chase,

Betsy considered her greatest mission in life was raising her children - including those she "adopted" to serve as a Mom figure. The beneficiaries of her loving nature have said that she helped draw out their best as a matter of routine, and she had a knack for making people feel good about themselves, especially during tough times in their lives. Outside the home: Betsy once was president of the Four Season's Garden Club, a docent at the National Portrait Gallery, very active as a member of the Round Hill United Methodist Church, and once was a Sunday school teacher at the Mount Vernon Place Methodist Church.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 16 at Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 Frying Pan Road, Herndon VA, 20171 with a reception to follow there. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to either of the following: Round Hill Volunteer Fire Department at 4 Main Street, P.O. Box 8, Round Hill, VA 20141; or to the Bennett Rill Fund to support student programs and ministries, specifying the Bennett Rill Fund in the memo space on checks via Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 Frying Pan Road, Herndon, VA 20171

Arrangements under the direction of Joseph Gawler's Sons LLC, Washington, DC.