Kenly – Betty Jean Ferrell, 82, completed her earthly journey on Monday, October 24, 2022. Born in Wilson County on September 28, 1940, she was the daughter to the late Jesse Luper and Mildred Page Luper.
Betty always looked for and found the best in people. She had a gift for crafts and flowers and appreciated “pretty things.” She dearly loved her family and extended family. A school teacher for 35 years, she pursued her passion for learning with the children of the Micro/Kenly/Glendale areas of Johnston County. After retirement, she was often stopped by those children, now adults, who thanked her for her kindness and attention. Most of the time she not only remembered them, but recalled a special moment when they read for the first time or achieved an excellent test score.
Her peers considered her a distinguished educator. She participated and held leadership positions in numerous educational and social organizations throughout her career such as the YMCA, NCAE, NC Library Association, ETA and Delta Kappa Gamma (Alpha Beta chapter). Betty Ferrell loved teaching and she loved children. This was noted in 2009, when Johnston County Schools honored her as a Living Legend in Education. In that 2009 interview with the Kenly News, she summed up her perspective with all her students, “Every student has a place. Every Student can be a success.”
A faithful member of Kenly Free Will Baptist Church, Betty taught Sunday school, helped with the Women’s Auxiliary and served as the church librarian for thirty-nine years until her health prevented her from attending. As her physical health declined, she lived out her love for Christ at the nursing home – always treating others kindly and looking for the good in them. She was a light in our family and our community. She will be sorely missed.
Betty is survived by her sons Robert Christopher Ferrell (Tricia Lynne) and Jonathan Edward Ferrell (Resa); grandchildren – Leah, Ayden, Emma, Eva and Evan Ferrell; step granddaughter – Anna Spoon; great-grandchildren – Tristen, Nicole and Ethan Ferrell; step great-grandchildren – Andrew and River Vincent; her brother Jesse Edward Luper (Edna); her sisters Patricia Luper Braswell and Mildred Marie McDaniels along with many loving nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband Bobby Gene Ferrell, her Brother William “Bill” Thomas Luper, and her grandson Robert Casey Ferrell.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 30, 2022, at Kenly Original Free Will Baptist Church in Kenly. A service to celebrate Betty’s life will follow at 2:30 p.m. in the sanctuary with Pastor Aubrey Williamson officiating.
In lieu of flowers, send donations to:
North Johnston Middle School
PO Box 69
Micro, NC 27555
(Note on memo line “Media Center Betty Ferrell”)
Or
Kenly OFWB Church
PO Box 487
107 E Edgerton St
Kenly, NC 27542
Arrangements have been entrusted to Kenly Funeral & Cremation Service. Online condolences may be expressed at www.kenlyfs.com.
