Betty Jones Bridgers Cullen

CULLEN

BETTY JONES BRIDGERS CULLEN

Betty Jones Bridgers Cullen, of Fairfax, VA, passed away Thursday, June 8, 2023.



Betty was born in Wilson, NC on August 1, 1950. Her parents were the late Charles Alex Bridgers and Mildred Lee Jones Bridgers. Betty grew up in Wilson amongst extended family and friends, "who shared joy and sorrow, and always lifted Betty in the knowledge that she was born in a community with the best people on earth." Betty carried forward the legacy of her family and Bridgers ancestors – that of hard work, determination, compassion for others, and a great sense of adventure.



Betty attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) from 1968-1972. At UNCG, Betty joined the Outing Club where she climbed and rappelled Pilot Mountain, and where she piloted a 52 foot ketch for 11 days from Miami to the Bahamas. Betty obtained a B.A. in Elementary Education from UNCG, and then set off for Virginia Beach. While teaching 6th grade at Princess Anne Elementary School, she met and married US Navy Pilot and Vietnam Veteran, Jim, who was flying A-6 Intruders off the USS Roosevelt in preparation for sea duty in the Mediterranean. After the wedding, Betty struck out for Europe for 4 months to meet Jim as the Roosevelt docked in ports spanning from Holland to Sicily. With the Mediterranean tour of duty complete, and now rooted in Annapolis, MD, Betty acquired a M.Ed. in Elementary School Counseling from the University of Maryland. She continued garnering credits throughout her life from the University of Virginia (in Gifted Education), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Old Dominion University. After Jim left the Navy, Betty and Jim relocated to Fairfax, Virginia where Betty taught 6th grade at Churchill Road Elementary School. Betty was known by colleagues, parents, and students to be an exceptional teacher.



Upon Betty's retirement from the field of education, she dedicated her time to family, to continuing to improve the lives of others, and to Bridgers' heritage. Betty instilled in her daughter, Leigh, Betty's broad world view, ability to empathize, and tenacity. She introduced Leigh to travel and culture, encouraged learning both the sciences and the arts, and immersed Leigh in skiing, sailing, and competitive gymnastics. Whether family or not, whomever Betty crossed paths with, she made lives better. Through her gift of communication and writing, Betty left people with hope, with a sense of purpose, inspired, and enlightened. Her reach extended beyond people, to assisting wildlife in need. Betty's viewpoint could be described as selfless.



"To take stock of (the) present in light of (the) past," and to progress the duties of her Bridgers grandfathers and grandmothers, Betty joined the Bridgers Family Association (BFA) as an active Hereditary Member and as a member of the BFA's Board of Directors. Betty delivered speeches for annual BFA meetings and explored ancestral sites with the BFA, such as Jamestown, St. Luke's Church (Smithfield, VA), and the cities and countryside of England. Read Betty's BFA contributions here:

https://bridgerfamilyassociation.wordpress.com/on-ancestral-progress/



Betty is survived by her loving daughter, Leigh Elizabeth Cullen, and husband, James Stephen Cullen. She is also survived by her brother, Ronald Keith Bridgers.



Service arrangements are pending. Donations may be made on Betty's behalf to the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation at NC State University. The foundation helps wild and domesticated animals across the state impacted by natural and man-made disasters.