Obituary for Betty Jean Brewington (Ledbetter)
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Meeting ID: 811 7749 6218
Passcode: Betty
Betty Jean was born March 23rd, 1942, in the Beaver Dam community of Rockingham, North Carolina, to Roland and Maeomia Ledbetter. As the firstborn, she shouldered responsibilities within and outside the household from an early age. Roland taught Betty how to hunt and fish, and Maeomia taught her homemaking skills. Betty was too short in her early youth to reach the sink and stovetop, so she stood on a chair to wash dishes and cook meals. Maeomia once boasted to her friend, Eddie Mae Brewington, of Betty’s skills in the kitchen. Thaddeus Brewington overheard this conversation and took special note of Betty when she was 12.
As a teenager, Betty cleaned houses and sometimes received hand-me-down clothes from her employers. Artful with needle and thread, Betty would transform old fashions into current styles. Betty and Thaddeus’ personal and school lives began to overlap; Betty served as a safety guard on the school bus Thaddeus (15.5 years) drove. When Thaddeus joined the U.S. Army in 1959, he knew whom he wanted to share his life with. Thaddeus and Betty were engaged during her senior year at Mineral Springs High School and married after her graduation months later, on November 20th, 1960. The couple’s first years of marriage were spent in Germany, with excursions all over Europe.
Thaddeus left the Army, and the young couple settled in the Washington, D.C., area. Betty and Thaddeus sacrificially invested in their children; Betty chose to stay at home when the family nest expanded to include Vivian and Eric. A devoted Christian, Betty was a faithful member of Mt. Horeb Baptist Church and sang soprano in the Inspirational Choir. Betty’s tailored clothes and fashion sense caught the attention of Bonnie Johns, who commissioned Betty to sew several business suits and casual outfits. Betty’s demand as a seamstress grew quickly by word of mouth; her clothes adorned and transformed how many women saw themselves. Betty’s clients ranged from private individuals to public school board members, numerous brides, and wedding parties. Betty enjoyed exercising with the Landover Mall Morning Walkers, earning 1000-mile status. She also was an avid bowler with God’s Property bowling team and the Columbia Center Seniors.
Held by the hand of her beloved husband of 62 years, the Lord welcomed Betty into heaven on March 28, 2023. She was predeceased by her parents, Roland and Maeomia Ledbetter, and her brother, Roland Ledbetter Jr. She is survived by her husband, Thaddeus; her brother James Henry (Shirlene) of Ellerbe, North Carolina; her sisters Mary (David) Dixon of Washington, D.C, and Clara (John) David of Monroe, North Carolina; her daughter, Vivian (Terry) Hayes of Portsmouth, Virginia; her son Eric (Dana) Brewington of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Six grandchildren also survive Betty: Lauren Hayes of Seattle, Washington; Benjamin Hayes of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina; Mahari Hayes of Portsmouth, Virginia; Brooke Smith of Bowie, Maryland; and Henry Smith Brewington and Thaddeus Smith Brewington of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Treasured by many other family members and friends, Betty will be greatly missed.
For persons who cannot attend the homegoing service for Betty Jean Brewington in person, please visit JBJenkinsFuneralHome.com and follow the instructions for viewing the live stream on Zoom from 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm on 4/29/2023. The service will not be recorded and therefore will not be available for viewing after this time.
OR
enter this ID and into your zoom application:
Meeting ID: 811 7749 6218
Passcode: Betty
Betty Jean was born March 23rd, 1942, in the Beaver Dam community of Rockingham, North Carolina, to Roland and Maeomia Ledbetter. As the firstborn, she shouldered responsibilities within and outside the household from an early age. Roland taught Betty how to hunt and fish, and Maeomia taught her homemaking skills. Betty was too short in her early youth to reach the sink and stovetop, so she stood on a chair to wash dishes and cook meals. Maeomia once boasted to her friend, Eddie Mae Brewington, of Betty’s skills in the kitchen. Thaddeus Brewington overheard this conversation and took special note of Betty when she was 12.
As a teenager, Betty cleaned houses and sometimes received hand-me-down clothes from her employers. Artful with needle and thread, Betty would transform old fashions into current styles. Betty and Thaddeus’ personal and school lives began to overlap; Betty served as a safety guard on the school bus Thaddeus (15.5 years) drove. When Thaddeus joined the U.S. Army in 1959, he knew whom he wanted to share his life with. Thaddeus and Betty were engaged during her senior year at Mineral Springs High School and married after her graduation months later, on November 20th, 1960. The couple’s first years of marriage were spent in Germany, with excursions all over Europe.
Thaddeus left the Army, and the young couple settled in the Washington, D.C., area. Betty and Thaddeus sacrificially invested in their children; Betty chose to stay at home when the family nest expanded to include Vivian and Eric. A devoted Christian, Betty was a faithful member of Mt. Horeb Baptist Church and sang soprano in the Inspirational Choir. Betty’s tailored clothes and fashion sense caught the attention of Bonnie Johns, who commissioned Betty to sew several business suits and casual outfits. Betty’s demand as a seamstress grew quickly by word of mouth; her clothes adorned and transformed how many women saw themselves. Betty’s clients ranged from private individuals to public school board members, numerous brides, and wedding parties. Betty enjoyed exercising with the Landover Mall Morning Walkers, earning 1000-mile status. She also was an avid bowler with God’s Property bowling team and the Columbia Center Seniors.
Held by the hand of her beloved husband of 62 years, the Lord welcomed Betty into heaven on March 28, 2023. She was predeceased by her parents, Roland and Maeomia Ledbetter, and her brother, Roland Ledbetter Jr. She is survived by her husband, Thaddeus; her brother James Henry (Shirlene) of Ellerbe, North Carolina; her sisters Mary (David) Dixon of Washington, D.C, and Clara (John) David of Monroe, North Carolina; her daughter, Vivian (Terry) Hayes of Portsmouth, Virginia; her son Eric (Dana) Brewington of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Six grandchildren also survive Betty: Lauren Hayes of Seattle, Washington; Benjamin Hayes of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina; Mahari Hayes of Portsmouth, Virginia; Brooke Smith of Bowie, Maryland; and Henry Smith Brewington and Thaddeus Smith Brewington of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Treasured by many other family members and friends, Betty will be greatly missed.
For persons who cannot attend the homegoing service for Betty Jean Brewington in person, please visit JBJenkinsFuneralHome.com and follow the instructions for viewing the live stream on Zoom from 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm on 4/29/2023. The service will not be recorded and therefore will not be available for viewing after this time.