TARBORO – Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Simmons “Betty” Shue, age 96, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2015 at the Fountains at the Albemarle in Tarboro, NC.

Mrs. Shue was born on May 10, 1918 to Walter B. and Mary (Hill) Simmons in Jones County, NC.  In 1940, she graduated from James Walker Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Wilmington, NC. Betty worked in the 1940’s as a private duty nurse. She moved to Ahoskie with her family in 1950 and began serving the Roanoke-Chowan Hospital as charge nurse for many years. In 1968, she was co-owner of the Ahoskie Optical Center until her retirement in 1981.  In November of 2000, Betty and her husband moved to Fountains at the Albemarle Retirement Home in Tarboro, NC.

Betty was passionate about her service to others.  She welcomed friends into her home for many meals and chocolate pie. We all enjoyed gathering around her table at meal times. She was a member and attended the Ahoskie United Methodist Church since 1951, and was a member of the UMW. She missed her church, but her faith in Christ remained steady.

Besides her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her loving husband, Sterling Sidbury Shue.  Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Kitty and her husband, Ronnie Pippen of Belvidere, NC, Charlotte and her husband, Charles Rhoden of Charleston, SC, and Marilyn and her husband, Dave Carter of Cary, NC; and her grandchildren, Beth and her husband, Tony Kempton, Allison and her husband, Page Sigmon, Jonathan Rhoden, Shawn Spivey and Travis Spivey. Together with these children are nieces and nephews, with which many memories were made to cherish always. The family would like to express appreciation to Janice, Shondi, Tammy, Wendy and Peggy for their love and care during this last year.

A celebration of life graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2015, at Highland Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Bill Haddock officiating.  The family will receive friends at Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service of Ahoskie from 1:00 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. prior to services.

Suggested memorial contributions may be made to the Ahoskie United Methodist Church, PO Box 665, Ahoskie, NC 27910; or to Community Home Care and Hospice, 2479 Hurt Drive, Rocky Mount, NC, 27804.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service – Ahoskie Chapel is handling the arrangements for the Shue family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.