Betty Ann Upshaw

Betty Ann Leathers Upshaw, a resident of Salemtowne Retirement Community, died on January 24, 2025. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Oliver Dewey Upshaw Jr; by her son, Oliver Dewey Upshaw III (Diane) of Raleigh; and by her daughter, Lela Altman (Marshall) of Nashville, TN. Alexander William Altman and Stella Evelyn Altman are her much loved grandchildren.

Betty Ann was raised in Bloomfield, Kentucky, and grew up in a family of six children. Her one surviving sibling is Rudolph Leathers. She graduated from Bardstown High School and then from Radford Women’s College. She continued her education earning her master’s degree from the College of William and Mary. She then taught in the Virginia counties of York & Henrico.

After her move to North Carolina, she taught in the Winston-Salem Forsyth County schools, primarily at Griffith Elementary School. In retirement, she was a tutor at Bolton Elementary School until the Covid epidemic. She was also active in the Beta Nu chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society.

Betty Ann was a long-time member of Knollwood Baptist Church. She was the first woman to serve as chair of the Diaconate. She held many other positions and served on numerous committees. She was instrumental in the founding of Knollwood’s preschool, serving as its director in its early years.

Apart from her teaching and working with children, she and her husband loved to travel. Through the years they enjoyed numerous trips, traveling to every continent except Antarctica. From the time their children were young, Betty Ann & Dewey took them on trips to England and Europe, instilling in them a love of travel and adventure and giving them the wonderful satisfaction of experiencing other cultures.

Betty Ann will be remembered for her zest for life, her adventurous spirit, and her care for others. A celebration of life service will be held at 3:00 PM, Sunday, February 23, 2025, at Knollwood Baptist Church.

Memorials may be sent to Knollwood Baptist Church marked “Celebration Fund”, or to the charity of one’s choice.

Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel is assisting the Upshaw family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com