Betty "Betsy" Lee Nichols Shelton
Betty (Betsy) Lee Nichols Shelton passed away on September 7, 2024, at the age of 89, at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home surrounded by her family.
Betsy was born on November 13, 1934, in Toast, North Carolina, to Romey and Monella Nichols. Betsy was a gifted seamstress and worked from her home doing a variety of sewing projects for family and friends … all of the prom dresses and piano concert gowns for her daughters and leisure suits for her husband. Growing up in the small town of Toast, NC, she and her husband, Bobby, knew each other from childhood, went to school and church together, and married in July 1954. This led to a life of love and caring for one another … through a myriad of life experiences and adventures.
Betsy worked at Hanes Hosiery until 1960 when her oldest daughter was born. After that, she became an excellent homemaker … cooking, sewing, knitting, taking care of the neighbor’s daughter, taking care of her parents and her in-laws. You could find Betsy doing all kinds of things around the house and with Bobby. They painted and roofed houses together, changed and balanced tires, mowed the lawn … anything that they could do to spend time together. From playing Bingo at Chick-fil-A every week to enjoying a game or two of canasta with their daughter and church friends to spending weeks at Holden Beach at their vacation home, they enjoyed life together and filled it with wonderful memories. They decided later in life that they both wanted to be a part of the Order of the Eastern Star and became members at the Old Town Lodge, serving in many capacities over the years. They enjoyed many experiences with this special group of friends.
As a long-time member of Beck’s Baptist Church, Betsy served as head of the children’s choir program, taught the 4-year-old Sunday School Class, worked every year in Vacation Bible School, and as a member of the Lydia Sunday School class later in life where she developed amazing relationships with the women in that group. Betsy was one of a kind. Her sweet and loving spirit blessed so many people. When one of the grandkids wanted something, she was happy to cook it up … from poppyseed chicken casserole to potato soup to vegetable beef soup. She and Bobby spent many weeks delivering her homemade sourdough bread to senior adults and shut ins from their church. Her heart was the happiest when she was able to do for others.
There were many Saturday nights when all four of the grandchildren would spend the night … sleeping on the pull-out sofa in the den. They had to have had their bath before they were allowed to watch Walker, Texas Ranger. As her grandchildren grew, she loved and supported them and welcomed their spouses as if they were her own. They were not “in-laws.”
Betsy loved unconditionally and was always there with a kind word and a caring thought. Her legacy will live on in all the ways she touched so many individuals. She will be missed every moment of every day, but we rejoice that she is now reunited with her husband, Bobby, and they are so happy to be together in heaven.
Betsy was predeceased by her parents, Romey and Monella; her daughter, Leesa Hernandez; and a great granddaughter, Sophie Foster. She is survived by her daughter, Teresa Shelton Hill, her grandchildren. Chad Foster and girlfriend Amber, Terry Foster and wife Amber, Amber Ellis and fiancé Corey Long, Tyler Hill and wife Sarah; great grandchildren Kylee Foster, Zackary Foster, Gabriel Foster, and Gunnar Ellis; brother Doug Nichols and wife Anita; nieces Robin Owens, Gina Tucker and husband Trent, and Vicki Fields and husband Bodey; and a special “adopted” daughter, Sharon Simon.
A service to celebrate her life will be held at Beck’s Baptist Church in Winston Salem, NC on Saturday, September 14th at 1:00 pm with services conducted by David Renegar, Ramon Smith, and Bobby Vaughan. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Beck’s Baptist Church 5505 Becks Church Road, Winston Salem NC 27106.
Thank you to the many people who cared for and touched Betsy’s life while she was a resident at Salemtowne Moravian Home and Clemmons Village II. She loved the ladies with whom she ate meals with at Clemmons Village and spent many hours playing bingo, making crafts, and enjoying music programs.
Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.
