Betty Lou Lanier

BEULAVILLE - Betty Lou Lanier, 77, formerly of Beulaville and Pink Hill, passed away Sunday, August 4, 2019 at Kenansville Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born February 5, 1942 in Duplin County.

She was preceded in death by her devoted husband Paul Lanier, loving parents Gladys and Rodolph (Bud) Lanier, step-father Riley Raynor, step-sister Shelby Raynor Williams-Sabon, step-brothers Connie, Leonard, and Wilbur Raynor.

Survivors include brother-in-law Jerry Matthews of Beulaville, nieces Connie and Brooke Gruber of Jacksonville, Cathy Morton of Beulaville, nephews Chris Williams of Jacksonville, Danny Raynor of Burgaw, and Ron Raynor of Chicago, Illinois. Surviving cousins include Sue Summerlin, Brenda Pittman, and E.V. Summerlin of Pink Hill and Barbara Deanda of Kinston.

A celebration of life was held on August 24th at Gum Branch Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church, Pink Hill and was officiated by neighbor and friend, Rev. Baris Lanier. Eulogists were classmate Brenda Benson Heath, neighbor Donna Callahan Johnson, and niece Connie Gruber.  Beautiful altar flowers were given by Beulaville High School Class of 1961. Music was provided by Tony King and Toni Lynn King of Pink Hill.

The family wishes to sincerely thank Kenansville Health and Rehabilitation Center, Hospice, Duplin Vidant Hospital, the Wallace/Durham Brian Centers, and the Beulaville Autumn Village, for their loving kindness and care of Betty Lou throughout the past 9 years, as well as many longtime faithful friends, neighbors, classmates, and churches.

Betty Lou grew up in the Cabin Community on Hall Road and graduated from Beulaville High School in 1961. A lifelong resident of Duplin County, she first attended Gum Branch Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church and later also attended Bible Believers Fellowship Church.

As a child, Betty Lou acquired cerebral palsy. She underwent surgery at a young age and wore special boots for years to support her standing and walking. Physical tasks were difficult for her but she was determined to attend school, drive a car, and she also successfully achieved many other goals.

Betty Lou was truly loved and admired by all who knew her, as she gracefully lived-out her life of faith by never allowing the weaknesses of her disability to define the strong, peaceful believer that God intended her to be.

Betty Lou will be respectfully remembered as she courageously fought the good fight through challenges that only increased as she grew older but those challenges never dulled her kind spirit or sweet smile. An angel on earth, she has not been able to walk nor talk in years but praise God, Betty Lou is surely running and singing in heaven today!

Condolences may be shared online at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home https://www. jerniganwarren.com.

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