Betty L. Henderson

Raleigh, North Carolina | 1933–2026

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day…” 

2 Timothy 4:7–8 (NIV) 

Betty Ledford Henderson, 93, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and acclaimed teacher, passed away peacefully in Raleigh, North Carolina, on October 25, 2026. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of nearly 68 years, Charlie L. “Rance” Henderson. 

Born in Gastonia, North Carolina, on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1933, Betty was the fifth of nine children born to Irvin William “I.W.” Ledford and Mary “Ruth” Hinson Ledford. Her twin brother, Billie Wray, died of diphtheria at the age of four, an early loss that helped shape Betty’s lifelong compassion for children.  After her family moved to Kings Mountain, Betty attended Cleveland County public schools and graduated from Kings Mountain High School in 1951. She met Rance when he asked her to be his date for their senior banquet. That invitation marked the beginning of a lifelong partnership built on love, faith, and a shared commitment to serving others. 

Betty earned an Associate of Arts degree from Gardner-Webb College in 1953, where she discovered her calling to teach deaf children. She completed a teacher-training program at the North Carolina School for the Deaf (NCSD) in Morganton in 1954 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Carson-Newman College in 1955.  Her teaching career began at NCSD (1955–1956), followed by the Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD) (1956–1957). 

On August 18, 1957, following Rance’s return from Naval service, the two were married. Nine months and one day later, they welcomed their first child, David. Julie completed the family when she arrived 18 months afterward. Betty was a devoted stay-at-home mom, waiting to resume her teaching career until Julie started kindergarten. She continued at OSD until 1968. During those years, she earned a master’s degree in deaf education from Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon University) in 1966 and a Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education Specialist Certification from the John Tracy Center in Los Angeles. 

The family next spent two years in Wheaton, Illinois, where Betty supervised student teachers at DePaul University. They then returned to North Carolina when Rance became superintendent of NCSD. Betty taught the school’s “prep class,” helping four- and five-year-old children prepare for first grade. She also served as adjunct faculty in early childhood education at Lenoir-Rhyne College in the early 1970s. In 1976, she became principal of Rankin Hall, a position she held until 1985, before returning to the classroom as a third-grade teacher. 

Throughout her career, Betty was an active member of the Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf and of national, state, and local chapters of the Association for the Education of Young Children. Her contributions to education were recognized with the Governor’s Award for Excellence in 1984 and the Southeast Regional Institute on Deafness Outstanding Educator of the Year award in 1986. Although she officially retired in 1992, NCSD remained close to her heart. She returned often as a substitute teacher and later served as interim middle school principal for five months. 

Betty’s dedication to service extended well beyond the classroom. For 50 years, she was a devoted member of First Baptist Church in Morganton, where she taught Sunday School and faithfully served on numerous committees. She was also an active member—and often an officer—of several community organizations, including the Quaker Meadows Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Morganton Service League, the Morganton Woman’s Club, and the Friday Afternoon Book Club. A committed supporter of her alma mater, Betty and Rance received Gardner-Webb University’s N.C. Baptist Heritage Award in 2018 in recognition of their exemplary generosity and service. 

Above all, Betty treasured her family and the friendships she built throughout her life. She delighted in time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; in welcoming family and friends to their Holiday Shores home on Lake James; and in traveling with Rance and loved ones. She approached life with energy, curiosity, and an enduring enthusiasm for new experiences. Family members often joked that Betty had a serious case of FOMO—fear of missing out—because she was always ready to go whenever an opportunity arose.

Creative, inquisitive, and always ready for fun, Betty enjoyed card games, jigsaw puzzles and nature. She also had a keen interest in family history. A descendant of Christopher Bechtler, Sr., she was particularly fascinated by the Bechtler Mint in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, a private mint that played an important role in America’s first gold rush by converting locally mined gold into reliable currency. 

Betty and Rance made their home in Morganton for five decades, building lasting friendships and treasured memories. In 2020, they moved to Magnolia Glen senior living community in Raleigh to be closer to their children, where they quickly became valued members of the community. Following Rance’s death in 2025, Betty moved in with her daughter, Julie, and son-in-law, Rod, where she continued to be surrounded by family and love. 

Betty is survived by her children, David (Sherri) and Julie (Rod); her grandchildren, Jessica (Brad), James (Regan), Andrew (Lauren), Sarah (Dustin), and Abbie (Will); and her great-grandchildren, Jackson, Oliver, Luke, Elsie Jo, Charlie, and Morgan. She is also survived by her brother, Jerry Ledford; sisters-in-law Kay Davis, Jill Ledford, and Mary Henderson; brother-in-law Jerry Rikard; and many nieces and nephews who adored their “Aunt Betty.” 

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the medical professionals who cared for mom during the past year; the staff of Ruth Sheets Adult Care Center for the love, kindness, and support they showed Betty the past seven months; and the staff of Transitions LifeCare for their compassionate, attentive care during Betty’s final days. 

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 22, 2026, in the chapel at First Baptist Church in Morganton, North Carolina. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the church parlor. A brief interment service will follow immediately after the Celebration of Life. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to one of the following organizations in memory of Betty: 

- Ruth Sheets Adult Care Center: https://www.esumc.org/giving

- Transitions LifeCare: https://www.transitionslifecare.org/donate/

- Gardner-Webb University: https://give.gardner-webb.edu/  (Henderson-Ledford Scholarship Fund)