The firecracker known as Bettie Jane Cummings Holcomb entered this world on June 25th, 1937, and left it on April 6th, 2022. As usual, she did not go without a strong measure of defiance. She did not beat the end result of her old age, but she gave it her best shot. Fourteen years beyond a diagnosis of malignant melanoma, which should have ended her life but did not, is a pretty good run.
While she worked until she was 78, Bettie regarded her most delightful job as that of a grandmother. Known as MawMaw not only to her own grandchildren but to everyone else’s too, she reveled in doting on and encouraging the younger ones in her life.
Bettie was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth and Else Cummings; her brother R.E. Cummings and her sister-in-love Grace Cummings; her former husband Bob Holcomb and his wife Sara (the comic “wife-in-laws” who kept Bob on his toes).
Bettie’s survivors include children Christie (Jim) Rice, Karen Holcomb, Rana Holcomb, Kirk (Stephanie) Holcomb; grandchildren Travis Holcomb-Faye (Annie Knudsen), Whit Holcomb-Faye, Max Rice, Ethan Rice, Allyn Holcomb, Noah Holcomb; nieces Kim Wertz (Barry Horne) and Diane Walsh; nephew Bill Cummings (Rose).
Kudos to the medical professionals who watched over her remarkable journey: Matthew Messier and Gwen Pressley, Gregory Bebb, Frank Crowl and Kenneth Kotz.
The family feels boundless gratitude for the lovely caregivers who saw Bettie through her last days; Kiszy Johnson, Lashel Johnson, and Katie Hill. Lower Cape Fear LifeCare allowed Bettie to ease out of the world without agony, which was a priceless gift.
Memorial services will be announced at a later date.
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