Betty Lou Fowler Hemmings

Mrs. Betty Lou Fowler Hemmings left this world on March 1, 2026. She passed away peacefully at Northern Surry Hospital surrounded by her children. She was 93. She was the youngest and last surviving member of the eleven children born to the late W.T. (Tom) Fowler and Lucinda (Lu) Nixon Fowler.  All of her brothers and sisters - Dewitt Fowler, Walter Fowler, Grady Fowler, Paul Folger Fowler, Odessa Fowler Sykes, Annie Fowler Lowe, Gladys Fowler Stone, Nell Fowler Carter, Mary Ruth Fowler Holbrook, and Mildred Fowler Draughn - preceded her to Heaven. Now their family is reunited again. Betty lived a full life. She grew up in Surry County where she attended grade school and high school. She was an athlete - playing on the county high school basketball championship team, and she was a very good student - being her class valedictorian. She began her working career at H&L Equipment Company before moving to Surry Bank & Trust, which became Northwestern Bank. She left there to become the first employee hired by the first president of Surry Community College, Mr. I John Krepick. She retired from the college 28 years later to become a full-time wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She loved her family. She enjoyed crocheting, sewing, gardening, canning, cooking and baking - yeast rolls and chocolate pound cake were her specialties. She was a devout Christian and member of Dobson First Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and attended regularly until declining health would not allow her to continue. She is survived by her husband of over seventy-five years, Robert Hemmings; three children and their spouses - Bob (Joy) Hemmings, Luanne (Mike) Marshall, and Tom (Kathy) Hemmings; four grandchildren - Dan (Abby) Hemmings, Anna (Chuck) Eyler, Sam (Morgan) Marshall, and Kelly (Seth) Brown; great grandchildren - Webster Hemmings, Fletcher Hemmings, Knox Hemmings, William Eyler, Lucy Eyler, Charley Marshall and Avery Brown. She is also survived by special in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends. All who knew her will miss her quick smile, her loving heart, and her gentle spirit. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made to Dobson First Baptist Church or the charity of the donor's choice. The family will receive friends Thursday, March 5th from 12:30-1:45 in the Fellowship Center at Dobson First. The funeral will follow at 2:00 pm in the sanctuary of Dobson First Baptist Church.