Betsy Byerly Scobie

Betsy was born October 11, 1940, in Dunn, NC to the late Fred and Kitty Byerly. She graduated from Dunn High School in 1958. Upon graduation, she then attended Peace College for two years, graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1962.

Betsy was very active in church and the neighborhood. She also worked for a short time in the Guest Services department at Rex Hospital in Raleigh. Primarily, she was the CEO and administrator of her household on Brandywine Road. As CEO, she saw to all upkeep and renovations to the homestead, planned all vacations, volunteered in her daughters’ schools, and joined the Medfield Garden Club. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels among many other charitable organizations.

She and her husband have been active members of Providence Church in Raleigh for over 30 years. She truly embodied the apostle Paul’s advice to pray “without ceasing,” and attended both Grandmothers at Prayer and the Upper Room Prayer center at Providence Church until her stroke on September 1, 2019. She also mentored many young women in her church and community.

She was an avid reader. Some of her favorite books included the Bible, which she read every morning and night, Emma Bombeck’s essays, and the Mitford novel series, among many others. Betsy was born with “sand between her toes” and loved being at the beach. She traveled many times a year to her beloved beach home in Carolina Beach, NC. Prior to finding a home away from home at Carolina Beach, she also vacationed often at Topsail Beach, NC with family and friends and spent many happy summers at the family’s Red Top cottage near Myrtle Beach, SC, as a child.

In addition to her beloved husband, Dave, of 62 years, Betsy is survived by her daughters Diane Scobie Aldridge, and her husband, Sid Aldridge of Chapel Hill; and Allison Scobie Houck of Apex, along with her grandchildren, Madison Noelle Houck and Robert Mitchell Houck. She loved her grandchildren only slightly less than she loved Jesus and would brag about them to anyone within hearing distance. She is also survived by her niece, Phoebe Azar; and nephew, John Azar, both of Greensboro. She loved them as her own.

In addition to her parents, Betsy was preceded in death by her sister, Anne Byerly (Azar) Allen on October 30, 2021. She missed her sister every day of these last three years. While they were separated in age by 5 years, they were absolutely devoted to each other. They even lived in the same zip code in Raleigh for over 50 years as adults, sharing every birthday and holiday with their children. Indeed, Betsy and Anne cherished a reason to celebrate any occasion and season, especially Christmas.

Despite suffering a debilitating stroke in 2019, Betsy continued to embody joy. Up until her final days, she modeled joy through adversity. One friend aptly described Betsy as a “burst of joy and enthusiasm.”

A celebration of her life and resurrection will be held on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Providence Church, 6339 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the following charities: Meals on Wheels of Wake County, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Providence Church, by using the links below, under 'Donations'.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Betsy, or a condolence for her family, you may do so below, within 'Add a Memory'.