Bettye A. Senter

Bettye Ashcraft Senter passed away April 2, 2017 in Raleigh, North Carolina. She was 92 years old. Bettye Faye Ashcraft was born on July 2, 1924 in Birmingham, AL to George Grady Ashcraft and Alice Faye Gibbons Ashcraft. At the age of seven, the family moved to Mobile, AL, where she had a happy childhood and made friends easily.  She was an excellent student and graduated from Murphy High School. In 1940, she enrolled in Agnes Scott College in Atlanta where she majored in mathematics. In Atlanta, she met William Jeffress (Jeff) Senter from Chalybeate Springs, North Carolina.  Jeff was a resident at Grady General Hospital.  They were married on December 30, 1943 at Government Street Presbyterian Church in Mobile, AL.  For several months thereafter she and Jeff moved from camp to camp until he was shipped overseas to serve his country as a medical officer in the U. S. Army. Bettye then continued her studies, graduated from Agnes Scott in 1945, and began teaching in Mobile.  After the war, Bettye and Jeff lived in Atlanta until Jeff completed his residency at Emory University Hospital.  In 1949, they moved to Raleigh where Jeff established his practice in internal medicine. Bettye was predeceased by her husband of 67 years in 2011.  She is survived by three daughters Virginia Faye Senter, Elizabeth Senter Parsons and longtime companion David Crabtree, and Anne Senter Tomlinson (Parker), all of Raleigh, and a son William Jeffress Senter, Jr. (Teresa) of Madison, MS; seven grandchildren William Parker Tomlinson, Jr. (Lindsey), Benjamin Jeffress Tomlinson (Laura) and daughter Carly, Adam Ashcraft Tomlinson (Addie) and sons Ashe and Jack, Elizabeth Anne Parsons and fiancé Richard Haywood, all of Raleigh, James Sheridan Parsons, Jr. (Perry) of Alexandria, VA, Katherine Senter Matthews (Bradley) and son Andrew of Wilmington, NC, and William Drew Senter (Jennifer) and daughter Noelle, of Oxford, AL.  She is also survived by 12 nieces and nephews and numerous other family members. Bettye was a faithful member of White Memorial Presbyterian Church where she served as a circle Bible leader, moderator of Presbyterian Women and was awarded a PW Life Membership in 2004.  She was active in her children’s PTA, her garden club, an over 50 year member and regent of the Colonel Polk Chapter of the DAR, president of the Wake County Medical Auxiliary and a member of Raleigh Fine Arts. She was an avid bridge player who enjoyed playing twice weekly at Carolina Country Club up until her death.  Her greatest joy was the time she spent with Jeff, her children and grandchildren.  She also loved the weekends and vacations they spent at Holly Rock Hill on Kerr Lake.  Throughout her life, Bettye was dearly loved by her family and so many close friends. The Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 2:00 PM at White Memorial Presbyterian Church on Oberlin Road in Raleigh, NC, preceded by visitation with the family at Noon.  A graveside service will be held at 3:00 PM at Montlawn Memorial Park.  The family wishes to thank Dr. Steven Liebowitz and Dr. James Parsons for their compassion and support.  Memorials may be sent to White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, NC 27608.