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Betty Wescott Joye Betty passed away early on Monday, March 4, 2024, after a long battle with Leukemia. She was born on July 3, 1945, to Charles Wescott and Leatrice Tamanaha Wescott in Honolulu, Hawaii. After graduating from Admiral Radford High School, she attended The University of Hawaii in Honolulu and graduated with a BA in Recreational Leadership. Following graduation she decided to go to stay with relatives in Tokyo, Japan. Her plane ticket routed her via Guam, so she decided to lay over there and visit family friends at the Naval Air Station there. Having extended her stay another day, she met her future husband, Jerry. After dinner and a show that night, she gave him her mother’s address so he could write and left the next morning for Tokyo. Her mother forwarded his letters to her, and she began to correspond with him saying, “If you’re ever in Tokyo look me up.” Two weeks later he did visit. Shortly thereafter, she returned to Guam, and they were married on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1972. Their son Jerry, Jr. (JJ) was born 9 months later. Jerry had two children from a previous marriage who were living with their mother in California. About a year after JJ’s birth Jerry was notified of their mother’s passing so he brought them to Guam. Betty welcomed them with open arms and helped to raise them as her own. When Jerry retired from the Navy, they returned to his home state of South Carolina and settled in Pawleys Island. Over the years Betty used her recreational leadership skills in many ways. She was a Certified Personal Trainer, led classes in aerobics, water aerobics, special water aerobics for arthritic patients, served as Recreation Director at a major hotel in Myrtle Beach and Owners’ Clubhouse director for a retirement community housing development in Pawleys Island. She and Jerry attended All Saints Episcopal Church and were very active in various programs and in the Cursillo Movement. Betty served on ten Cursillo Weekend Retreats, once as the Lay Rector Leading the event. She accompanied Jerry wherever his job took them until he retired in Santa Clarita, California. They spent two and a half years working and living in Yellowstone National Park and enjoyed exploring Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Returning to South Carolina they became founding members of The Abbey Anglican Church in Pawleys Island. She is survived by her son Keith (Debbie) of Tabor City, NC, daughter Karen of Surfside Beach, SC, and son JJ (Magda) of Sydney, Australia, grandchildren Angela Walls (Jim) of Orlando, FL, Christa Blanton (deceased), Kara Bigham (Mike) of Matthews, NC, Ashley Miller (Eric) of Monroe, NC, Victoria Joye and Rheanna Adams of Surfside Beach, Cassie, Ian, and Luke Joye of Sydney, Australia. Great grandchildren include Steven and Madison Bigham of Matthews, NC, Brantley and Tucker Rorie, Ike, Cloe, and Jacoby Blanton of Monroe, NC, William (Olivia), Ryan, Elizabeth, and Amelia Walls of Orlando, FL. At Betty’s request there will be no Funeral Service. However, a Celebration of Life for family and close friends will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Abbey, 46 Gathering Lane, Pawleys Island, SC 29585, https://theabbeypawleysisland.com

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Betty Wescott Joye

July 3, 1945 - March 4, 2024