Elizabeth Williams (Betsey) Talley

on March 10, 2019. She was born in Wilmington, NC on February

18, 1931 and lived her entire life there. She was predeceased by

her parents, John Edgar and Elizabeth Parker Williams and her

beloved sister-in-law and husband, Vivian Talley and Paul Stark.

She is survived by her brother, John Edgar Williams, Jr; her

husband, John Howard Talley, Jr; her two sons, John Howard

Talley, III and James Lamont Talley (Paula Stephenson Talley) ;

her beloved grandchildren, Allison Elizabeth Talley, John

Howard Talley, IV, and Stephen Parker Talley; adopted daughter

Margie Talley; and many cousins and their families.

   Betsey lived a full and rich life. She lived the first third of her

life for her children. And she raised them well. Her restless

intellect and creativity led her back to school when her youngest

son entered school. She earned a BA in Music Education and

began a teaching career as band director at Roland-Grise and

Williston Middle Schools. She has legions of students from

the 70's who remember her fondly.

   Her early life was not entirely devoted to children. She was proud

of her bridge group which was begun by her mother, many of whose

members met regularly for 50 years. She was an active member of

the North Carolina Junior Sorosis and produced many fund-raising

fashion shows which she created. She was most proud of

originating the idea of an amphitheater at Greenfield Lake. A number

of men have been credited with this idea, but it was Betsey who

first brought it up to her dear friend and music mentor, Bill Adcock.

She also got wind of the 'Lost Colony's' decision to replace their

seats and brought it to the attention of the builders who acquired

the Manteo venue's seats at a great cost savings. After its completion,

she went on to direct or participate in the production of many

fund-raising musicals and fashion shows at the Amphitheater,

Thalian Hall and other venues around town.

   The next third of her life was spent as teacher/mentor to

hundreds of musicians in New Hanover County middle

schools. Betsey was very proud to have become a proficient

saxophone player en route to her music degree in the early

1970's. She even mentored her oldest son through his student-

teaching, much to the chagrin of the Department of Education

at UNCW. The powers-that-be did not know Betsey! She held

her son to a much higher standard than any non-relative. 

   The last third of her life was spent as matriarch of her family.

She mentored us all and was there for all of us when life's

little set-backs discouraged us. She drove the tractor on the

farm; kept the books for her husband's tobacco businesses;

nursed both her mother and mother-in-law in their twilight

years; and even had a go at opening a furniture store for a

few years. Her creativity knew no bounds. She made birthday

parties and other family occasions into theatrical productions

and kept all who knew her entertained with her zest for life.

   The family will receive friends at Andrews Valley Chapel on

College Road on Thursday, March  14, 6-8 pm. Funeral

services will be held at Masonboro Baptist Church on

Friday, March 15, 2019 at 11am, burial in the church

cemetery to follow.

   In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any gifts be made to

Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physician's Drive, Wilmington,

NC 28401  or Masonboro Baptist, 1501 Beasley Road, Wilmington, NC, 28409.