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Beth Humphrey of Wilmington died in her sleep on the evening of June 4, 2021 after a lengthy fight with dementia.

She was born on July 7, 1941 to Fred and Agnes Harris in Bailey. She grew up in tobacco farming country in Nash County with no siblings but surrounded by cousins.  She graduated from East Carolina University in Greenville in 1962 after being active in Chi Omega sorority. She met her husband of 59 years, Carl Humphrey of Lumberton, while attending ECU and they married shortly after her graduation.  After several stops along the way, they settled in Mocksville in 1972.  They remained there until 2015 when they retired to Wilmington.

She spent much of her life as a school teacher, a school media specialist, a clothing store proprietor, and a world traveler in retirement. She was active in the First United Church of Mocksville and the Hickory Hill Country Club. But she would be the first to say the most important job and role she ever held was as a wife and mother to two sons, Scott Humphrey of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and Dean Humphrey (Jenn) of Wilmington, and grandmother to Matthew Humphrey, Hannah Humphrey, Braden Humphrey, and Bennett Humphrey.

She was active socially, hosting countless bridge parties with friends and was the first to greet a neighbor, friend, or friend she just hadn’t met yet. She was famous within her family for always making them the last to leave church services, because she had to chat, laugh, or just share a moment with everyone. As with most things her family complained about, she happily chose to ignore them and did what she wanted to do anyway. Yet even being the last to leave, she was always the first with a covered dish, a card, a flower arrangement, or just to visit with anyone who needed a friend or support.  She never missed a birthday, an anniversary, a graduation, a wedding, or a funeral. She loved her family, her friends, and neighbors with all her heart and was always there for them.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by: her in-laws, Edwin and Ruth Humphrey of Red Springs.

Survivors: her husband, her sons, her grandchildren, and the many family members and friends she collected throughout her life.

A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, June 8 at 2  p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 401 Grace St., Wilmington.  The family will receive friends from 1:15-2 prior to the service.

Memorials: Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, 28401; or to a local Special Olympics.

Condolences: www.thomasfuneral.com.