Betty Hildreth Metts, 88, of Leesville, SC went to be with her Lord and Savior on Christmas Day. The widow of Philip T. Metts, she was the daughter of Sam Hill and Florence Dawe Hildreth. Born and raised in Cullman, AL, she was the eighth of ten children who were brought up serving the Lord and understanding the importance of family. She attended and graduated from Cullman County Public Schools.
It was in Cullman that she met the love of her life while he was there working with the CCCs. The day after graduating from high school on May 31, 1953, they were married in the living room of her family’s home. Betty and Philip then began their 62 years together in his hometown of Leesville, SC. Though Cullman always held a special place in her heart, after her marriage, Batesburg-Leesville quickly became her home away from home.
Betty and Philip welcomed four children into their lives whom they raised with love and devotion. She lives on in the memories of her family: Beth (Tom) Allen, Phil (Marie) Metts, Barbara (Jeff) Manchester, and their youngest Kim (Carey) Bedenbaugh. They were the grandparents of five grandchildren, Betty Manchester, Mary (Bryan) Shealy, Corey Metts Bedenbaugh, Rebecca (Bret) Boley, and Ben (Jessica) Bedenbaugh. She was also the great-grandmother of five: Paxton and Adair Bedenbaugh, Beth Ann and Sara Kate Boley, and Margaret Shealy. Her family was what she was the proudest of. She cared for her family and those around her with awe-inspiring devotion. When she loved you, she wholeheartedly loved you.
Betty always felt blessed to live surrounded by many dear friends in the Ridge Road community of Leesville. She and many of her neighbors made lifelong friendships. Betty also loved yard work; any time she had a free minute, you could find her working in her yard enjoying the beautiful world her Lord created. Betty valued family and her home was always a welcome spot for both her family and those who quickly became a part of her family. She had a servant’s heart and was always looking for ways to help the shut-ins and needy in her community. She would often take her grandsons, Corey and Ben with her to deliver food and other necessities to those in need around her. This instilled in them a love for helping others as well.
Betty is survived by a brother, Phil Rodney Hildreth of Tuscaloosa, AL. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded by her beloved husband of 62 years, her parents, sisters: Mary Sims, Sybil Umphrey, Sandra Hutchens, Lucy Addy, and Nan Cook, and brothers, Earl Hildreth, Los Hildreth, and Wyman Hildreth.
Betty retired from J.B. Martin after many years of service, and together with her husband owned and operated Philip T. Metts Construction for over 25 years. Long before retirement, she and her family often traveled to many National Parks and other areas across the country in their RV. After retirement, she and her husband continued traveling to many places they still wanted to visit. They would often take their grandchildren on many of their later trips which formed lifelong memories they will always cherish.
A celebration of Betty’s life will be held at Union Lutheran Church on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 at 10 a.m. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the service. Honorary pallbearers will be her neighbors and friends from the Ridge Road Community.
Her daughter Kim would like to express her profound gratitude to the A & B Wing Staff at Saluda Nursing Center for the heartfelt love and compassion they always bestowed upon Betty in the last years of her life while there and all of the support they provided her as well. In trying to keep her mother and father at their beloved home as long as possible, she would also like to thank the numerous in-home caregivers who helped her shower Betty and Philip with love and care for over fifteen years of their lives.
As a member of Union Lutheran Church and to honor her lifelong love of the Lord, memorials may be made to Union Lutheran Church- 4077 US 378 Leesville, SC or the charity of one’s choice.
