Betty Lazenby Murdock

Betty Lazenby Murdock, 92, of Statesville passed away peacefully on April 4, 2019 at Iredell Memorial Hospital with her family by her side. Betty was the daughter of Edgar Tuck Lazenby, Jr. and Beulah Era Wilson Lazenby and was born on July 23, 1926 on her Grandfather Lazenby’s farm in the Cool Spring community of Iredell County. She loved her mother and father dearly and was proud of the many lives that her parents touched during their lifetimes.

In her early years she attended New Hope Baptist Church and continued a deep affection for New Hope Baptist and the Cool Spring community throughout her life. She loved to take afternoon rides through Cool Spring and would recall stories of her grandparents and the neighboring families.

On June 7, 1946, Betty married Conda Murdock and together they had three children, Eric Conda Murdock (Teresa) of Plymouth, New Hampshire; Anna Murdock of High Point, North Carolina; and Steven Edgar Murdock of Birmingham, Michigan. In addition to her children, Betty is survived by her grandsons, Jason Eric Murdock of Marietta, Georgia; and Benjamin Wilson Murdock (Delia) of Seattle, Washington. She lovingly anticipated the birth of her first great-grandchild to be born in May of this year. Betty was predeceased by her parents and her dear brother, Robert Wilson Lazenby.

Betty is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Sheryl Lynne Lazenby of Pickerington, Ohio; Susan Lazenby Galloway of Mason, Ohio; Sandra Lazenby Walters (Bucky) of Lancaster, Ohio; Laura Andrews Mitchell (Everette) of Dover, New Hampshire; Douglas Andrews of Virginia; Bryan Andrews (Keg) of Statesville, North Carolina; David Sharpe (Cathy) of Dayton, Ohio; and Emily Sharpe of Dayton, Ohio.

Betty had a deep love for her family and friends and is further survived by her cousins, Peggy Shoemaker Sykes, Beckie Holton Spaugh, Jo Ann Wilson Goodson, Gene Wilson, Billy Walters, Beatie Wilson Goldner, Jerry Fox, Eleanor Lazenby Biggers, Reed Adams, and Tuck Lazenby, as well as her special friends Pearl Rosser, Tsuyako Harrington, Mavis Calabrese, Helen Gillespie Prevette, Andy and Margaret Haynes, and their sons Landon and Jake.

Betty was very proud to have been a high school graduate in the Class of 1943, the first graduating class of the new Statesville High School in its current location. Her high school yearbook is filled with newspaper articles of the achievements of her classmates as well as their obituaries when their time had come. Betty continued her education at Mars Hill College and earned an associate degree in Business Administration in 1945 and received the Business Award for scholastic achievement.

Following graduation from college, Betty worked as a bookkeeper at Carolina Motor Company in Statesville, and later at Builtright Chair Company in Statesville. She took great joy in being a “stay at home Mom” until all three of her children graduated from high school. In 1976, Betty returned to the workforce and joined Statesville Auto Auction as its bookkeeper and continued there until her retirement in 1995.

Betty was a woman of strong Christian faith. Following her early years at New Hope Baptist, Betty continued her faith journey at First Baptist Church in Statesville where both of her parents were actively engaged in the spiritual formation of the youth of the church. Upon her marriage, Betty joined Broad Street United Methodist Church in Statesville and was an active and beloved member for 73 years.

Betty was an active participant in the life of Broad Street Church and had an invitational spirit for all in need of a church home. She had an affection for the children and youth of the church and quietly recognized high school graduates with a personal note and monetary gift. For eighteen years, she ensured that there were flowers on the altar each Sunday and elevated that activity into a connection ministry for those wishing to honor loved ones. She had a heart for Broad Street Church’s participation in Camp Barnabas, a Christian-based camp for people with special needs and chronic illnesses. Betty also provided historical knowledge of the church for its centennial celebration and cherished the fellowship with her contemporaries in the Prime Timers Senior Ministry.

Betty was a strong supporter of the Statesville Grenadier High School Band under the directions of Jim Calabrese and Ken Rudd and served as a band chaperone for 10 years. One of her proudest achievements was to fulfill a request by Jim Calabrese to create nineteen realistic leopard skin overlays for the Grenadier Band drum corps. Betty would often recall how she utilized the local talents and resources of Statesville residents Perci and Glenn Foy, Dr. Jim Rodgers, John Ray Schafer, Larry Watts and David Bunch in turning Calabrese’s dream into a reality.

Betty was a loving mother and was invested in the lives of her children and their friends and many considered her to be a “second mom”. Over the years, the workers of Builtright Chair Company reciprocated the kindness that she showed to them by their special visits and friendships. She always showed an interest in others and possessed an uncanny memory for all things. She loved to read gothic romance novels and the challenge of completing daily crossword puzzles. She enjoyed watching Carolina basketball and New York Yankees baseball and made sure that family and friends were just as excited about watching the Kentucky Derby and “Dancing with the Stars” as she was.

Betty Lazenby Murdock was a beautiful example of how to be gracious and courageous during difficult times. The family wishes to thank the professional care given to their mother by Dr. Stephen Rosser and the staff of Dr. Ruby Grimm, and most recently the staff of Iredell Memorial Hospital Skilled Nursing, particularly the loving care shown by Beverly Boddie and Bradley Flatts. The family also wishes to thank Katie Barker, Sylvia Warren, Shirley Parker, Beth and Jimmy Webb, Dr. Duncan McCall and Dr. Mary John Dye for their special friendship and love shown to their mother.

A family graveside service will take place at Oakwood Cemetery and will be followed by a Celebration of Life service to be held on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at 2pm at Broad Street United Methodist Church, 315 W. Broad Street, Statesville, NC. The family will be available to greet friends and family immediately following the service in the church Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorial gifts for Betty Lazenby Murdock be made to the Camp Barnabas Fund, the Children’s Playground Fund or the Prime Timers Senior Ministry Fund, all of Broad Street United Methodist Church, 315 W. Broad Street, Statesville, NC 28677.

Bunch-Johnson is honored to be entrusted with the care of Ms. Murdock and her family. Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com