Betty Lewis Patterson Masters

DATELINE: KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA

Betty Lewis Masters

Betty Lewis Patterson Masters was born December 17, 1933, to William Hayne and Agnes Austell Patterson in Shelby, North Carolina. She grew up in Patterson Springs with her older brother, William (Bill) Hayne Patterson, Jr., surrounded by a large extended family in Shelby, Patterson Springs, and Earl. She had 22 cousins. Betty was the widow of the late Bennett John Masters, Sr. Together they raised three children.

She graduated from Number 3 School, where she drove a school bus and played softball. As a young woman, with encouragement from one of her aunts, she took voice lessons and developed a beautiful soprano voice. She kept a book recording the many weddings and funerals where she sang. Later, she was a longtime member of the Chancel Choir at Central United Methodist Church in Kings Mountain, where she sang at numerous community events, often alongside Jake Dixon or Sonny Peeler.

She graduated from nursing school at Charlotte Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. Betty and her family lived in Dallas, Texas; Landrum, South Carolina; and Canton, North Carolina, before settling in Kings Mountain, where she has lived for the past sixty-one years.

Over her career, she worked at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, for Dr. Numa Carter in Shelby, at Shelby Hospital (now Atrium Health), and at Kings Mountain Hospital. She served as a surgical nurse, floor nurse, and in labor and delivery.

Her most meaningful role was serving as the School Nurse for the Kings Mountain School District, where she worked for thirty-six years and cared for at least three generations of students. Betty always called the children “her kids,” and she meant it. She made sure students had what they needed to succeed. If a child required hearing aids, glasses, or other support that their family could not afford, she was quick to call on local civic leaders to ensure the child received it.

Beyond nursing, Betty was active in the Colonel Frederick Hambright Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), where she assisted over 120 people in tracing their genealogy to join that chapter and others. During her 41years of DAR service, she held every position in the chapter, including Chapter Regent. She served as a District Director, State Vice-Chair of Membership, Chair of Commemorative Events, Volunteer Genealogist, and Chair of the Program & Literacy Promotion.

SURVIVORS: Children: Bennett John Masters, Jr. of Tampa, Florida and husband Lay Maharatboutdy; Robin Lewis Masters Meyer of Charlotte and husband Don Meyer; and Mary LeeAnn Masters Hendricks of Charlotte and husband Jay Hendricks. The light of her life were her two grandchildren, Jackson Wade Hendricks (Peyton) of Raleigh and Cassie Elizabeth Hendricks of Charlotte/Boone. Also, Nathaniel Meyer (Sarah) and Andrew Meyer (Lesley) and 6 great-grandchildren.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM at Sulphur Springs Methodist Church with Reverend Dr. Chris Masters officiating

VISITATION: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 2:50 PM prior to the service in the sanctuary of the church

INTERMENT: Sulphur Springs Methodist Church Cemetery, Shelby, North Carolina

MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Colonel Frederick Hambright Chapter DAR, Masters-Stallings Nursing Scholarship Fund, which supports Cleveland Community College nursing students in pursuing their careers. Checks should be made out to the Col. Frederick Hambright Chapter, DAR. Nursing Scholarship Fund, and mailed to: Pat Beaty, Treasurer, 1256 Lewis Farm Rd., Kings Mountain, NC 28086

GUEST REGISTER AVAILABLE AT WWW.HARRISFUNERALS.COM

ARRANGEMENTS: HARRIS FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA