Bettie Dean (Lipscomb) Richmond

Bettie Dean Lipscomb Richmond was born on March 09,1932, to the parents of George Madison and Mattie Belle Hicks Lipscomb. The baby girl of the family, she was the seventh child. She was united in Holy Matrimony to Julious Earl Richmond on February 14, 1953. They enjoyed a blissful union for 67 years. She was blessed with a loving and devoted daughter, Vanessa Dale (Twinkle), on February 06, 1956; and on June 05, 1999, she gained a lovable son-in-law, Ray Lee Graves, Jr.

Bettie grew up in Milton and joined River Zion Baptist Church at an early age. In 2010, Earl was ordained as a Deacon, and subsequently; Bettie became a Deaconess, and she served diligently in this role. She was a past member of the Senior Choir, and for the last four years she was President Emerita for the Joint/Milton Missionary Circles. She was a past President of the Intermediate Choir, Chairperson of the Beautification Committee, a Vacation Bible School Chairperson, a member of the of Caswell County Chapter of MADD, and Bible Study Teacher (Junior Youth Class). She enjoyed fellowshipping and worship and serving God. Bettie lived life as a God-fearing Christian.

A graduate of Caswell County Training School, Class of 1950, her class was the first to graduate in the auditorium. After graduation, she studied at NCA&T for a few semesters in Nursing. She was manager for Richmond Cedar Works in Danville, VA, florist for Blackwell/Taylor Florists in Yanceyville, NC, and a substitute teacher for Caswell and Rockingham Counties, NC.

Community service in Milton, include Bettie serving as the first Afro-American Judge for the Election Board of Caswell County/Milton Precinct, Thomas Day/Union Tavern Museum volunteer work, membership in the Womans Club of Milton, Chairperson of the St. Jude's Cancer Walk for Children, Chairperson of the Susan B. Korman Cancer Walk Relay for Life.

Bettie was predeceased by siblings: Sherman (Dick), Joylette (GuGu), Georgette (Bunny), Sylvene (Vene), Julius (Red), and Shirlee (Shen). She was the last of her generation.

Bettie was loving, genuine, and a mentor for many. She was an awesome listener and always gave heartwarming advice. A stickler for promptness, she was always on time. She could be compared to Job due to her courageous fights with illness. She was a stern fighter, one who never gave up and always kept her faith in God.

Bettie let her light shine so others could see the God and Bible in her. Her favorite foods were shrimp and grits and chocolate cake. She was always active, never sitting down for a split minute. Multitasking, cooking, working in her flower garden, entertaining, designing & decorating, and helping on the farm were among her favorite things to do. Traveling and eating out with family and friends were enjoyable times for her.

She was second mom for: Barbara Williams Arrindell, Elaine Williams Giles, LaGreta Williams, Antionette Williams, Vickie Richmond-Moore, Harriette Evans, Jackie Gravely Waters, Linda Sims, Barbara Butler Stanley, Rita and Ashely Cobb, Elaine Mills Tyson, Charlene Reid, Tymesia Jones Smaw, Tori Waters, Mary Jones Madden, Izetta Johnson Thomas, Ingreata Johnson Totten, Carolyn Smith, Karl, Keith, and Vincent Lipscomb, Rev. Alvis A. Alston, Deacon Garland Sidney, and Lonnie Thomas.

Bettie was a devoted wife, an inspirational mother, a loving mother-in-law, and a friend to countless many. She leaves to continue her legacy and to cherish her memory, daughter Vanessa Dale (Twinkle) and a son-in-law Ray Lee Graves, Jr. of Milton, NC, a sister-in-law Exie Cunningham Lipscomb, Milton, NC, a godson Sidney Evans of Greensboro, NC; and a plethora of additional family members and friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bettie Dean (Lipscomb) Richmond, please visit our floral store.