Mary Elizabeth Bowles Haywood

February 18, 1930 - March 28, 2023

Mary Elizabeth

"Betty" Bowles Haywood died peacefully on Tuesday, March 28 at her home of 20 years, the Arbor Acres Retirement Community in Winston-Salem. Born in 1930 in Lexington, N.C. she was the eldest child of Louis Grant Bowles and Christine Tatum McCrary Bowles, with a happy childhood spent mostly in Statesville, N.C. From 1945-1950 Betty attended St. Mary's School and Junior College in Raleigh, NC. She received her BA degree in Secondary Education at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1952 where she was President of the Chi Omega Sorority and Senior Class Secretary. Betty was married to Charles Lewis Haywood III, also of Statesville, from 1952-1976. She leaves behind their four children, Elizabeth (Liza) Bowles Haywood, Charles Lewis Haywood IV, Marguerite McCrary Haywood Suggs, and John Grant Haywood who were raised in Morganton, N.C. She is also survived by her sister, Nancy Christine Bowles Cornelius of Greensboro, NC and her brother, Stephen Walker Bowles of Tampa, Fla. Her brother, Louis Grant Bowles Jr. (formerly of Lexington, NC) is deceased. Her large and loving family now includes twelve grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren.

After training at the Benedictine Abbey at Pecos, New Mexico and the Jungian Institute in Switzerland, Betty began providing spiritual direction privately to others and became a Spiritual and Retreat Director for Snails Pace in Saluda, N.C. Her relationship with a mentor, Father Thomas Keating, brought him to Asheville and Wake Forest Divinity School for Centering Prayer workshops. For 13 years, she served on the Western N.C. Episcopal Diocese Commission on Ministry, earning the 'Outstanding Communicant' award in 1999. As an active member of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem, Betty was a Lector, on the Adult Education Committee, a member of the St. Francis Society and the International Order of St. Luke for her prison work of healing prayer. As a student of life, love and service to others, she will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched.

A service of remembrance for Betty will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem with a reception afterwards. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to The Staff Education Fund at Arbor Acres or the Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministries.

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Published by Statesville Record & Landmark on Apr. 2, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Mary Haywood

7 Entries

Beth Frack

April 20, 2023

So sorry for the loss of you mother/grandmother.

Denise Wentz

April 19, 2023

I am so very sorry to hear of Betty's passing. My condolences to her family. God Bless

Tom Eshelman

April 18, 2023

Betty was one of the nicest people I have ever met and I mean that. She was truly a wonderful person full of joy and laughter. He smile was infectious. I loved he laugh and her ear rings. She meant so much to me and my ministry at the Valle Crucis Conference Center and helped me in so many ways. I am sorry a fell out of touch when we left Valle Crucis.

Jack Scruggs

April 12, 2023

Betty was such a force for good. When she bought our house on Lynwood, we became fast friends, and though she wasn't my spiritual director, she had an impact on my spiritual life. We spent four years in the Education for Ministry program of the Episcopal Church, and I'm forever thankful that Betty was a part of that experience. My prayers are for her family and all of us who loved her.

Catherine Jourdan

April 5, 2023

I will always remember serving with Betty at the Forsyth Correctional Center, where we were part of the camps Chapel ministry. We sat with young men who were incarcerated and prayed together earnestly and powerfully. Betty was so revered and loved by them and she returned that love and demonstrated Christ´s love by being accepting and open to them.

Dovie McBrayer

April 1, 2023

The McBrayer family sends their condolences to all of you. Betty was a very special person to us all. We cherish the memories we have of her. Such a sweet and beautiful person inside and out. John, Mom was upset she missed your call and would love to speak with you if you have an opportunity to call her back. She tried to call you but couldn't get through with number she had. Take care, God bless.

Chip and Debbie Bowles

April 1, 2023

Debbie and I enjoyed being at Betty's 90th birthday celebration. Great music with family.

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