Alice Elizabeth "Betty" Jessup Martin

RALEIGH - Alice Elizabeth “Betty” Jessup Martin passed away Friday, May 10, 2024, at her residence at The Cardinal at North Hills in Raleigh, North Carolina. She was preceded in death by her parents, Captain James Campbell Jessup and Margaret Fair Williams; her husband, Thomas Sterling Martin; her brother, James Campbell Jessup, Jr.; and her sister, Margaret Fair Jessup Butler. She is survived by her daughter, Alice Elizabeth Martin Wilson and her husband, Robert L. Wilson, Jr.; her grandson, Robert L. Wilson, III and his wife, Jackie Linker Wilson; her granddaughter, Katherine Sterling Wilson; and her beloved great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Elizabeth and Robert, all of Raleigh.

Betty was born February 17, 1924, in Chase City, Virginia. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1945 from Madison College, now James Madison University. She continued her education at Duke University, completing the graduate certification in dietetics in June 1947. She was married on July 19, 1947, in South Hill, Virginia. The couple lived and worked in Louisville, KY for two years before relocating to Lumberton, NC. While in Lumberton, Betty worked at Southeastern General Hospital as a Registered Dietician for several years and then as the Director of Food Services for the Lumberton City Schools. Following her husband’s transfer to Raleigh, NC, Betty worked as a Consulting Dietician for the NC Department of Health and Human Services until her retirement in the mid-1980s. She and Tom were members of First Presbyterian Church in Raleigh and enjoyed the Vanguard Sunday School Class until Tom’s illness kept them from attending in person. Their church family provided them with much comfort and were a real blessing to Betty in her years without Tom. She was also a proud member of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution).

She and Tom loved traveling and playing golf. They visited Walt Disney World every January in retirement, playing golf and enjoying their favorite park, Epcot. They managed to visit all but two of the fifty states, somehow missing only Montana and Wyoming and always making many new friends along the way. They traveled throughout western Europe and enjoyed cruising to many destinations. They were so fortunate to have so much time to enjoy their retirement together.

Betty faithfully cared for Tom when Parkinsons and Dementia took him on a long journey of nearly six years until his death in 2016. She moved to the Cardinal at North Hills in 2018 where she celebrated her 100th birthday on February 17, 2024, surrounded by her family and so many friends. Her special friends at the Cardinal made her life so much happier and she cherished each and every one of them.

The family would like to thank the caregivers and lovely people who helped her during her stay at the Cardinal and especially during the last weeks of her life. These wonderful people gave so much of themselves and the family will be forever grateful: Jona, Carolyn, Linda, Gwen, the entire Interim Healthcare team, and Zuzu and Margaret. You were truly a blessing to her and to all of us.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may consider donations in Betty’s name to Saint Mary’s School, 900 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27603, or to the SPCA of Wake County, 200 Petfinder Ln, Raleigh, NC 27603.

A memorial service will be held at the Historic Oakwood Cemetery Mausoleum, 701 Oakwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27601 at 10:00am, Saturday, May 18, 2024.

Funeral arrangements are by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com