Obituary of Bettie Ann Nelms Lange

Bettie Anne Nelms Lange of Kernersville, NC went home to be with her Savior on September 19, 2021. Mrs. Lange was born and raised in Smithfield, Va. She was the daughter of Mary Josephene Crumpler Nelms and Matt Thomas Nelms.

Bettie was loved by so many. She will be remembered for many things but, locally…her chicken n’ dumplings and strawberry cake are at the top of the list. She was an excellent cook. She was a seamstress who made everything from curtains to wedding gowns. She was an artist whose paintings are still hanging in a doctor’s office in Suffolk, Va. She was an avid reader and a lover of music. Although, she would say (and we would agree) she couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, she would still sing and dance to “her” music. She loved Christmas, tea pots and pink.

Bettie worked many jobs but retired as a telecommunications operator after 20+ years. She was a member of First Christian Church Ministries in Kernersville, NC.

Bettie was Mama to four; Edward Lange, Jr. (Darlene) of Roanoke, Va., baby boy Brian Lange (passed shortly after birth), Michelle Kingery (Mark) of Kernersville, NC and Cheryl Bialorucki of Kernersville, NC. She was Memaw/Grandma to nine; Joshua Lange (Sandy) of Waverly, Va., Brian Lange of Roanoke, Va., Benjamin Lange of Roanoke, Va., Rob Bialorucki of Toledo, OH., Bryan Bialorucki of Toledo, OH., Barbara Shanahan (Ryan) of Greensboro, NC, Jessica Young of Kernersville, NC., Brandi French (Daniel) of Camden, OH., Mark Kingery of Cincinnati, OH. She was a GG to eleven; James Lange, Jonathan Lange, Emily Lange, Lilliana Lange, Ashtyn Kington, Owen Shanahan, Landon Young, Anson Young, Kaeson Young, LaNora Kingery and Ryan French.

She is survived by her sister, Mary Faust of Kernersville, NC and David Nelms (Barbara) of Smithfield, Va.; along with several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Matt and Josie Nelms and her brother Waverly Nelms.

Visitation will be held at Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Home, Kernersville, NC., Thursday, September 23rd from 5:00-7:00. A graveside service will be held at Oakland Church, Chuckatuck, Va., Friday, September 24th at 2:00. A Celebration of Life will be held at First Christian Church Ministries at a date TBD.