Our beloved mother Bettye Jean Whitehurst Greger, 89, passed away Tuesday evening, June 27, 2017 after a spirited and courageous battle with numerous health issues.
Funeral Service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, July 1, 2017 at Montlawn Funeral Home chapel. Entombment will follow in the Chapel of Memories Mausoleum next to our beloved father. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.
Bettye was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Fred, her parents and her sister, Francis Johnson of Bethel. Bettye is survived by her daughter Paula and her husband Roy Speight of Garner; son, Ron Greger and his wife Adrienne of Durham; son, Brian Greger and his wife Daisy of San Francisco, CA; granddaughter, Heather Pennica and her husband Tony of Garner; grandson, Stan Ferguson and his wife Jennifer of Garner; stepdaughter, Cathy Sottile and her husband Russell of Red Lion, PA; great grandchildren, Peyton and Connor Pennica, Brittany Pittinger, Matthew and Joseph Miller, and Lillie Ann Ferguson. She dearly adored the great grandchildren loving all the time she spent watching them grow up.
Bettye was born May 22, 1928, daughter of Paul and Jennie Whitehurst of Bethel, NC. She was raised in an agricultural community. Her father was a well-respected farmer and businessman in the small town of Bethel, NC. She graduated from Bethel High School with valedictorian honors. She then attended East Carolina University at a very young age where she received a B.S. degree in Education.

At the age of 21 she met our dashing father while teaching in Winston Salem, NC. After many years dedicating her love to the care of her three children, she went back to NC State University at the age of 40 to receive a Masters in School Administration. She then started a new career as a counselor in the Wake County Public School System serving for 20 years. She dedicated her life and whole being to helping many children find their path in life. "Feeling loved and loving others" was her greatest wish for all her children.

Bettye was a member and treasurer of the North Raleigh Exchangettes Club. After retirement, she volunteered at Rex Hospital for 24 years working mainly in the flower shop designing beautiful arrangements for those in need. At the age of 75, our talented mother took harp lessons. She and her husband cherished the adventure of travel visiting over 65 countries. She was a very active and highly regarded member of Benson Memorial Methodist Church.

Bettye had a never ending positive and pragmatic perspective on life constantly planning in preparation for the next step. She instilled virtues of integrity, compassion, hard work and fortitude in all of her children making them what they are today. She often said "a person should not be judged by wealth but by how many lives they have touched and changed in life." Bettye touched and changed many people's lives. God bless her genuinely loving and dear soul.

The family wishes to offer their heartfelt thanks to Duke Medical, Duke Hospice, Dr. Ibach, and Affordable Family Care Services for their care and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Benson Memorial United Methodist Church, 4706 Creedmoor Rd, Raleigh NC 27612 or to Duke Hospice, 4321 Medical Park Dr #101, Durham, NC 27704.