Betty Lou Dennis
June 8, 1932 ~ February 14, 2015
West End NC
Betty Lou Olive Dennis, of West End NC, lost her battle with cancer Saturday, February 14, 2015. She dealt with her cancer the same way she did everything else –head on and full speed ahead.
Betty grew up in Apex and graduated from Meredith College in 1954 with a BA in organ. Her first job began immediately as organist/choir director for First Baptist Church in Rockingham, NC. In 1956 she flew to Germany to marry her soul mate, Lt. Channie Dennis. While there she became organist for the chapel in Conn Barricks near Schweinfurt. Upon returning to North Carolina, she accepted a job teaching music in the Apex Public School and later became a classroom teacher. After teaching twenty-four years and working four years as secretary at UNC-Chapel Hill, she retired from the State of NC. She served as organist and/or director of choirs in various churches from 1954 until 2013 when she was diagnosed with cancer.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. & Mrs. J. Gordon Olive.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Channie; sons James and wife Joanne and step-grandchildren Jay and Dominick Flood of Rock Hill, SC, Steve and wife Garnet and grandchildren Zach, Jordan, Chris and Justin Dennis of Newark, DE; sisters Shirley Caraway of Apex, NC, and Mary Woodall and husband Woody of Durham, NC. She is also survived by nephews, nieces and many cousins who gathered often in the Dennis home for reunions.
A memorial service will be at 2:00 pm on Thursday February 19 th at First Baptist Church of Southern Pines, 200 New York Ave, Southern Pines NC 28387. A visitation will occur after the memorial service in the Church hall.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Southern Pines, 200 New York Ave, Southern Pines 28387 or First Health of the Carolinas Hospice and Palliative Care, P.O. Box 5889, Pinehurst, NC 28374.
Powell Funeral Home and Crematory of Southern Pines is assisting the family
Online condolences at www.PinesFunerals.com
Our sincere sympathy to you, Channie, and to James and Steve and their families. We have fond memories of Betty as organist and friend at GFBC, of Sunday School socials at your home in Apex, and of the contact we have kept in the many years since. You are
Our thoughts and prayers are with Channie and the family during this time of their sorrow. Betty was such a dear friend and we appreciate all the time she served our Seven Lakes Chapel. Her talent in music was extraordinary and she inspired us each servic
We will always remember this beautiful woman who was so kind and caring for others. We, too, will sadly miss her. There are so many good memories of Betty. We are thinking of all of you at this time. The Browns
Channie, Steve, James and family,
So sorry we have lost a dear friend, wife, sister, Mom….. She is one special lady and now resting with her Savior. She made the world a better place. We sure loved her! Will be keeping you in our prayers during th
We are sorry for your loss. We know she is no longer in pain and sitting in heaven with our father. God bless you in this time of need and we are thinking of you.
Sent with a prayer,
Don and Alice Caraway