Betty Bradsher Tillett

Mrs. Betty Bradsher Tillett, 90, a longtime resident of Burlington, NC, died on Sunday, May 21, 2017 at Vidant Hospital in Greenville, NC. The seventh child of Bessie Long and John Tinsley Bradsher, Betty was born July 3, 1926 in Roxboro, NC. After graduating from Roxboro High School, she was employed as a bookkeeper at the family business, J.T. Bradsher Plumbing and Heating prior to marriage. On April 15, 1951, Betty and Thomas Reade Tillett of Timberlake were married in Roxboro Baptist Church. They were married for 56 years until his death in 2008.

Her home for over 60 years was in Burlington, where Tom was employed by Western Electric. Betty lent her voice to the choir of Northside Baptist Church and served on various committees. For three years, she resided at Oak Creek Retirement Community. The past eight months, she resided with her daughter in Winterville.

Betty and family traveled to all 48 mainland states, and included visits to many battlefields where Tom participated in civil war reenactments. Later, they joined her brother-in-law William Tillett, and wife Janie in visiting Alaska and Hawaii. Her garden was filled with flowers that were cut to beautify the home and church. She was a welcomed visitor by her granddaughters in homes in Ohio, Illinois, and North Carolina.

Mrs. Tillett is survived by her daughter, Ellen Speight, and husband Bob of Winterville, NC, granddaughter Jennifer Speight Flanagan (John) of Raleigh, and Mary Catherine Speight of Austin, Texas, brothers-in-law William Tillett of Timberlake, NC, and Billy Turner of Boise, Idaho.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by son, Stephen Bradsher Tillett, sisters Helen Laws, Erma Tillman, and Alma Yarboro, brothers James, John, and Edward Bradsher.

Funeral service will be Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Rich & Thompson Chapel in Burlington, NC, with Dr. Dale O. Steele and Rev. Bruce Brown, officiating. Visitation will be from 9:45 -10:45 prior to the service. Interment will follow at Mt. Tirzah Methodist Church, Timberlake, NC at 3:00 PM.

The family would like to thank Vidant Palliative Care for the loving care provided Betty and the family during her last week. A special thanks goes to Joanna Mann for the care provided when Betty was at Oak Creek.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Northside Baptist Church, 513 Homewood Avenue, Burlington, NC 27217, Mt. Tirzah Methodist Church, 4553 Surl-Mt. Tirzah Road, Timberlake, NC 27583, or a charity of your choice.
 

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