Betty Ann Lucas

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Don; parents, Willard and Gladys Duke; siblings, Thomas Allen Duke, Margaret Nell Cantey (nee Duke) and Jacqueline Willard Miles (nee Duke). She is survived by her precious sons, William Maurice (Reese) Lucas, and wife Mary Kay, Steven Donald Lucas and wife Chele; brothers, Paul Ronald Duke and William Roderick Duke; wonderful grandchildren, Kimberly Marie (Michael) Carter, Bradley Steven (Kerri) Lucas, Kathleen Elyse ( Jake Geer) Lucas, Aubrey (Adam) Southwell, Michael (Courtney) Smith; cherished great-grandchildren, Caden, Isaiah, Eli, John David, Ezrah, Demi, Rhylee, Naomi, Beckett, Finn, Noah, Nolan, Rory as well as many nieces and nephews that were special to her.

Betty was born on November 7th, 1933, to William Wesley and Gladys Cecelia Duke (nee Gibbons) in New Zion, SC. After graduating from Black Water High School in 1951, she moved to Columbia, SC where she met her future husband, Donald G. Lucas who was serving in the Army at the time.

They were married on January 31, 1953, at the Midway Presbyterian Church. The couple briefly lived in South Carolina before moving to Danville, IL in 1954. In 2004 they moved back to Florence, South Carolina so she could be closer to her siblings and then in 2013 moved to Knoxville Tennessee.

Betty spent her early years at home raising her children until she embarked on a career at Hyster Truck company. While working at Hyster she also pursued a college degree at Eastern Illinois University and graduated in 1979 at 45 years old. She considered this one of her greatest accomplishments. She never missed a day of school her entire life due to illness.

Betty was passionate about her family and grandchildren and welcomed every opportunity to spend time with them. She loved southern cooking and credits her Grandmother Annie Gibbons with teaching her those skills. She loved the Christmas Holiday and buying gifts for everyone. Betty loved to travel, play solitaire, bridge as well as hand and foot card games. She was the Bean Bag Baseball champion where she last lived and one of the highlights of her week was always getting her hair and nails done.

Her favorite quote was "Be Happy, it'll be OK" We will miss her greatly.

A funeral service will be held for Betty on Friday, December 13, 2024 at 2pm at Berry Highland West with a graveside service to follow.