RALEIGH, NC ~ Elizabeth "Betty" Thomas McManus, age 97, of Cary, NC, passed away on March 22, 2022. Born in Williamsburg County, SC she was the youngest daughter of Fred Scott Thomas and Kate Milwee Roper Thomas.

A graduate of Winthrop College (University) in Rock Hill, SC, she was a professional educator and also used her teaching skills in various capacities in Baptist churches where her husband was pastor in NC and SC. She was a hostess extraordinaire, a gift she shared with all six of her children. An accomplished seamstress, she made most of her family's clothes including wedding gowns for her five daughters. She was a naturally gifted interior decorator. Mrs. McManus was a Master Gardener and especially enjoyed growing roses. She was a porcelain artist and made life size dolls and Christmas ornaments with her own registered trademark, Betsy Bobbit©, her pet name as a child. In her eighties and early nineties she painted with oils, often painting birds and flowers. She was a seasoned traveler and enjoyed visiting many places of interest within the United States and abroad.

For the past 21 years Mrs. McManus was a resident of Woodland Terrace Senior Living Community in Cary, NC. She served actively on committees within the community to help improve the overall living experience of residents. She was known for her creativity, arranging live flowers for the dining room tables, decorating common use areas for Christmas  and planning, hosting and presenting programs at  themed monthly ladies' luncheons for 17 years. For more than 18 years every resident and every associate of Woodland Terrace received a handcrafted  birthday card made by Mrs. McManus.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Uriah A. McManus, Jr, her parents Fred Scott Thomas and Kate Milwee Roper Thomas, her brother Fred Scott Thomas, Jr, and sisters Katherine Thomas Morrison and Dorothy Thomas Way. Survivors include children Linda M. Stevens (Mike) Pinehurst, NC; Sherry M. Cochran (Ben), Raleigh, NC; James A. McManus (Emma), Garner, NC; Caroline M. Jones (Archie), Erwin, NC; Margaret M. Herod, Winter Park, FL; Amy M. Stackhouse (Tom), Rockford, AL; twelve grandchildren and ten  great-grandchildren.

A graveside service officiated by Rev. Caroline McManus Jones will be held at Lancaster Memorial Park in Lancaster, SC, at 2:00 p.m. on April 2, 2022 with arrangements by Burgess Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Forest Hills Baptist Church, 201 Dixie Trail, Raleigh, NC  27607 or Wake County Public Libraries, https://wakenc.comprisesmartpay.com/Scripts/Smartpay/smartpay.dll or  P. O. Box 550, Raleigh, NC 27602.