Bettye L. (Oliver) Scarbrough

Bettye Lenore Oliver Scarbrough, age 85, died April 13, 2020, at Regal Heights Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Hockessin, Delaware. 

Bettye was born in Sweet Water, Alabama, the daughter of Vella D. McGee and Lawrence Ellis Oliver. She was a graduate of Sweet Water High School and attended Friendship Baptist Church in Pine Hill, AL before marriage. As a loving wife and mother, she traveled throughout the world with her husband, Cliff while he served in the US Army over 20 years. Following retirement, Bettye and Cliff attended the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary at Wake Forest, NC and were appointed by the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board to serve in Belize, Central America where they served for 15 years. During their time on the mission field, they started 8 churches with the Maya Indians, 4 churches with the Creole, and built 2 retreat and training centers plus 8 permanent churches. A high school was built in Belmopan after their retirement and named in their honor.

After returning to the U.S., Bettye and Cliff returned to Sandflat, AL and were members of Pineview Baptist Church in Thomasville, AL. Bettye was active in the church and in the Ladies Auxiliary. Following declining health, they moved to Delaware to be with family members.

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 68 years James Clifford Scarbrough, Sr. Survivors include daughters Rhonda (Jacob) Mullins of Newark, DE, Johnnie (Allen) Groves of Maryville, TN, Doni (David) Jordan of Columbia, SC and son, James (Tori) Scarbrough, Jr. of Ely, MN, grandchildren Lenora Spence, Crystal Richards, Jacob Mullins and Morgan and Taran Scarbrough along with great grandchildren Madison Spence, Chloe, Cayla and Casey Richards and Emma and Lily Mullins. Also surviving are sisters Algerian Denson, Gerly (Bill) Autrey, and brother Samuel (Grace) Ellis Oliver. She was predeceased by brother, JE Oliver and sisters Virginia Larrimore, Barbara Green and Sue Sims and granddaughter Heather Groves.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Regal Heights for the care provided.

A memorial service will be held privately with a committal in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 678572, Dallas, TX 75267-8572.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bettye L. (Oliver) Scarbrough, please visit our floral store.