Early Life and Family Background
Betty Lois Hales was born on September 14, 1934, in Johnston County, North Carolina, to Delphia Pearl and James Perry Hales.
Betty was one of eleven children, with siblings including Janice, James Jr., Fletcher, Leon, Ernest, Dorothy, Winfred, Floyd, Vara, and Duke.
The family resided on Watson Street in Kenly, North Carolina, and were active members of the Kenly Free Will Baptist Church.
Betty was a popular and athletic student at Kenly High School, where she excelled as a cheerleader. It was through school sports that she met Roger Earl Pender, a student at the rival Glendale High School.
Marriage and Career
After Roger served in the Army during the Korean War, where he was wounded in 1951, he returned to Kenly. Betty and Roger began dating and were married on August 23, 1953, at the Kenly Free Will Baptist Church. The couple moved into a rented apartment in Wilson before building their own home in Kenly. They welcomed their only child, a daughter named Betty Jo, in 1954.
Initially, Roger worked as a truck driver, but he and Betty later transitioned into accounting, a profession they both excelled at for over 40 years. However, their marriage ended in divorce on March 7, 1960. Roger passed away at the age of 50 on June 18, 1978.
Later Years and Legacy
Following her divorce, Betty bought a house in Kenly and continued her career in accounting until she retired at the age of 72. She remained in close contact with her family, especially her sister Janice, who had been widowed since 1956. Betty and Janice shared a special bond, with Betty helping Janice in her garden and with canning vegetables. Betty also enjoyed crocheting for her family.
In 2010, after experiencing a mini-stroke and a fall, Betty moved into a small assisted living community in Selma. She continued to enjoy frequent outings and visits from her daughter, granddaughter Rhonda, and great-grandchildren, Izzy and Matt.
Betty Lois Hales Pender died on May 13, 2017, at the age of 82.
She is remembered as a kind, thoughtful, and intelligent woman who was proud of her family and maintained a loving relationship with her sister.