Betty Freeman Capps Thompson, 86, of Whiteville, entered eternal peace on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 after a long life marked by faith, service, and perseverance. She was born to the late John Monroe and Eva Barnes Capps on Feb. 18, 1940 and grew up in Lucama, NC, graduating from Lucama High School in 1958.
She started college at Campbell University but transferred to UNC-Greensboro where she earned a degree in home economics. She moved to Whiteville upon graduation to work for the Cooperative Extension Service as a 4-H agent. In 1965, she married Leon H. Thompson. After raising her daughters, she reentered the workforce as a Head Start nutrition educator and earned her master of education from the University of South Carolina. She returned to Cooperative Extension as a family & consumer science educator, retiring in 2006. Betty was an active member of New Hope Baptist Church, where she held numerous leadership roles, including serving as the first female deacon.
Betty is survived by her daughters, Suzanne Thompson Clemenz (Brent) of Lafayette, Ind. and Jennifer Thompson (Nathan Guinn) of Raleigh; three grandsons: Quinn (fiancée Reagan Johnson), Lucas, and Aidan Clemenz; a sister, Eva Kate Boyette of Atlantic Beach, NC; and two sisters-in-law, Joanne F. Thompson of Whiteville and Doris Capps Owens of Wilson, NC. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Harris Thompson, and brother Loy Ovanda Capps.
A celebration of life will be held at New Hope Baptist Church on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 3pm, officiated by Rev. Kenny Byrd, with visitation beginning at 2pm. Interment in the New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery will follow the service.
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