Betsy Freeman Fox

Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" Freeman Fox died August 20, 2024 at her home in Greensboro North Carolina, after a swift and terrible confrontation with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease. Betsy had principles, curiosity, a precise and steady work ethic she devoted to her communities, and an ingenious sense of humor and fun. She was reserved but honest and direct in her communication. These qualities remained during her illness.

Betsy is survived by her loving, heartbroken family: her husband of 46 years Richard Fox; children Rebecca (Leon Scroggins) and Aaron (Lani Clough Fox); grandchildren Ruth and Muriel Scroggins and Aurora and Ronen Fox; brothers Franklin (Lynn Lloyd Freeman), Smith (Austin Scarlett), Amos, and Samuel Freeman (Annette Lareau); sister- and brother-in-law Judy Fox Horne and Philip Horne; many beloved cousins; and three generations of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Clara Smith Freeman and Franklin Edward Freeman Sr.

Betsy was born in High Point, NC. She shared a birthday with her father, who rang the church bells when she was born. She and her four older brothers grew up in Dobson, NC, where they had an "idyllic" childhood, riding bikes, horses, and roller skates; sledding; and swimming at "Scunny Hole," among other adventures with the town's many children. Their mother was a math, biology, and home economics teacher and their father a teacher, attorney, and judge. She attended Surry Central High School and graduated from Salem Academy in Winston-Salem.

Betsy attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied English and psychology. She was among the first "freshman" women to live in Kenan Dormitory and helped orchestrate the first-year-student takeover of Kenan Dorm's government. At Chapel Hill she met Richard, then a fellow undergraduate. Betsy graduated from college a semester early and traveled Europe largely alone for three months, a formative experience during which she and Richard stayed in touch via airmail. She returned to UNC-CH for her Master's of Art in Teaching.

Richard and Betsy were married in 1977 at her childhood home in Dobson. They lived in San Antonio, Texas and San Francisco, California, picking up lifelong friends along the way, before settling in Greensboro in 1984. She and Richard have been active members of Temple Emanuel for over 40 years.

Betsy worked for 23 years as an English teacher in middle school, high school, college and community college settings. She was a tutor in English as a Foreign Language and volunteered in the public schools of Guilford County for 12 years. She worked as a freelance writer in San Francisco and proofread her brother Samuel's and sister-in-law Annette's books. In 2004-5, she compiled and wrote about the letters of her paternal grandparents, also both teachers; the resulting manuscript is part of the Surry County Digital Heritage project.

For decades, Betsy was an active member and organizer in the North Carolina and Guilford County Democratic Party. She served as precinct chair and held various positions on the County Executive Board. She was Chair of the Guilford County Democratic Party in 2020-2021. Betsy served on the Democratic State Executive Committee representing Guilford County for over ten years. She was 2011 Democrat of the Year, received the 2008 Chair's Award, and was a delegate to the 2008 National Democratic Convention.

Betsy was a lifelong learner and a dedicated reader. She completed a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Literature at UNC Greensboro. She was a member of two book clubs and (nearly) always read the books. After her ALS diagnosis, she immediately read Thomas Mann's "Buddenbrooks" and continued attending book club as long as she could. While in home hospice, she had her children read Samuel Richardson's "Pamela" aloud to her.

Through her childhood and much of her adult life, Betsy was a skilled and enthusiastic equestrian. More recently she enjoyed swimming, both in the pool and in the Atlantic Ocean at Kure Beach, piano, walking, bicycling, and playing with her grandchildren.

A funeral for Betsy Freeman Fox will be Friday August 23 at 11:00 a.m. at Temple Emanuel: 1129 Jefferson Rd, Greensboro, NC.

The family requests donations in memory of Betsy be sent to:

ALS United NC

4 N. Blount St. #200, Raleigh, NC 27601

alsnc.org/donate;

Authoracare Greensboro

2500 Summit Ave. Greensboro, NC 27405

authoracare.org/give;

Temple Emanuel Cemetery Fund

1129 Jefferson Rd., Greensboro, NC 27410.

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