Betty Hamilton Messick

Betty H. Messick, born May 14, 1925 in Myrtle Beach, SC, passed away peacefully at home on February 27, 2023. She was just shy of 98 years old and had led a very active and fulfilling life. She grew up in Myrtle Beach, SC, spending much time on the beach, and exploring the marshes and back creeks of coastal South Carolina. Betty was a graduate of Myrtle Beach High School and attended one year of college at Limestone College in Gaffney, SC.  This was near the end of World War II and she left college to take a position as secretary to the base commander at the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base where she met her future husband, Paul Messick, at that time a pilot in the US Air Force.

After a wedding in Myrtle Beach on August 7, 1946, the two of them moved to Burlington, NC, which was her husband’s home town. After Paul graduated from Duke University Law School, he opened his law practice in Burlington where Betty served as office manager/bookkeeper for over 50 years.

Betty was very physically active all of her adult life. She swam laps regularly at the local YMCA earning numerous merits for cumulatively swimming more than 100 miles. Betty attended exercise classes regularly at the gym well into her 80’s. She loved tennis and played competitively at the club level. Even competing against other nearby clubs in tournaments. Betty enjoyed walking especially with her dog.

She had many interests and hobbies. Betty loved working in her yard and refinishing antique furniture. She was an avid reader and loved her daily crossword puzzles. Betty and Paul loved sailing from early in their marriage, progressively stepping up to larger boats along the way. Their last sailboat was a 32-foot Endeavor that they berthed in Bath, NC, from where they could sail overnight and explore the waters and port towns and villages of coastal NC.

Betty is survived by her three children, T. Paul Messick, Jr. (Christina), of Stockholm, Sweden; Steven H. Messick (Victoria), of Burlington, NC; and Leslie Lane Messick (Paul Baumbach) of East Bend, NC. She is also survived by five grandchildren and three great grandchildren who brought her much joy and laughter.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 pm Tuesday March 7, 2023 at Lowe Funeral Home Chapel in Burlington, NC. The family will receive friends following the service and there will be a private burial at a later date in Pine Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston Salem, NC 27103.