Betty Bellamy Neeley passed away peacefully with her family by her side July 30, 2025, at Johnson City Medical Center. With a life marked by unwavering devotion, Betty’s legacy was built on faith, service, and the deep bonds she forged within her family, church, teaching career, and community.
Betty was born on October 20, 1924, to the Reverend Thomas M. and Minnie Bellamy. A daughter of the Methodist church from her birth, she became a repository of Holston Methodist history which she enjoyed sharing with any willing audiences through her later years. Betty’s love of Methodism was shared with her partner in life Sam Neeley who she married in November 1947, at East Stone Gap United Methodist Church. The church was the center of Betty and Sam's life as Sam became a licensed United Methodist pastor. They served multiple times as delegates to the World Methodist Conference, General Conference, and Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. Betty was very active in all the churches she and Sam served. She served on numerous boards and agencies of the United Methodist Church and was President of the Holston Conference United Methodist Women. At the end of her life, she was a member of Jonesborough United Methodist Church.
Betty’s life was marked by a remarkable career in education spanning over four decades. She graduated from East Tennessee State College earning a B.S in English & History; graduate study at William & Mary; and finally, M.S in counseling and guidance from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her teaching career began in 1946 in Kingsport City Schools. She then moved in 1947 to teach elementary schools in Wise County, VA. Her 17-year career as an English teacher continued at Big Stone Gap High School and in Norton, VA at John I Burton High School. At John I Burton HS, she transitioned to serve as the director of guidance, counseling, coordinator of testing and special services for Norton City Schools for 27 years. Following her teaching career, Betty was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International where she served as chairman of the scholarship committee and chairman of coordinating councils. She was past president of the Delta Chapter in Johnson City, TN; State chair of Literacy Commission; and Member of the Board of Regents, Oxford Graduate School, Crystal Springs, TN.
Her journey, shaped by love and steadfast commitment, touched countless lives and leaves treasured memories for those who knew her. Special appreciation goes to her many caregivers, especially Karen and April.
In addition to her parents, preceding Betty in death was her beloved husband Sam, brother James W. Bellamy, and her sister, Dr. Virginia Nelle Bellamy. Remaining to cherish her memory are sister-in-law, Anna Bellamy, several nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services are scheduled at Jonesborough United Methodist Church on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Visitation will begin at 9:30 am, followed by the service at 10:30 am, led by Rev. Caleb Frazier of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, Rev. Adam Love of Hixson United Methodist Church, and Rev. Richie Hayes of Jonesborough United Methodist Church. Committal services and interment will be held at Woodhaven Memorial Gardens at 2pm in Powell, TN.
Pallbearers are Mike Cornett, Sam Cornett, Mike Hale, and Ed Britt.
Memorial donations may be made to Jonesborough United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice.
Condolences may be sent to the Neeley family online at www.dillow-taylor.com
Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home, Jonesborough, TN, 423-753-3821
08/07/2025
Jefferson Ingram
Our family lived across the street from Sam and Betty Neely on Spruce Street in Norton Virginia. She was always a nice lady, quiet, and personable. I remember her as a guidance counselor at John I. Burton High School. She was very competent and understanding. A life well lived, for sure! Rest in Peace!
08/04/2025
Joyce Johnston Spradlin
She was lovely lady I enjoyed having her as a great teacher, she always was giving and included in sports God bless!
Mrs. Neeley was a great teacher. To this day I remember many specific things that I learned in her English class. It was one of the few classes that I looked forward to every day!
08/04/2025
Lee Addison Sayers
Lovely person. Special teacher in my life. May her memory be a blessing.
08/04/2025
Rex and Lisa McMurray
Sam and Betty were great friends and great Christian examples to everyone in the Hiltons community. We loved them both very much and they will be greatly missed
08/04/2025
Ruth Ann Hall Pautenis.
Mrs. Newly was the consummate teacher, advisor, friend to our Class of 1961. I will always have wonderful memories of her kind and caring personality. It was such a joy to me that she attended my wedding in 1964. She was certainly a blessing to many of us.
Amazingly I was just thinking about Mrs. Neeley recently and I can still picture her in my mind as she looked when I was her student at J I Burton. She surprised me once by nominating me for a trip to a Virginia English competition of some sort. I cannot remember the details, but I was so touched that she thought that much of me. She is truly one of my good high school memories.
08/03/2025
Daryl & Sandra Rowe, Darrin, Eric, Leslie & Lauren and families …..
We all loved Sam and Betty and thought of them as part of our big family ♥️❤️
Loved her as a teacher at Norton. She also directed our senior class play and was so interested in her students daily lives. She came to many of our class reunions over the years. God truly blessed us to have her.
08/01/2025
Margaret Ann Kibler Boggess
Mrs and Mr Neeley were a big part of my life in Norto . From church, school and community. Enjoy Heaven Mrs Neeley
Betty was a wonderful friend and was very special to me and my family. She and Sam were true examples of Christian love and service.
Betty was one of a kind. So kind sweet, sharp witted I loved every opportunity I had to visit or share a meal with her. She had an impact on me and I know she did for so many of her students over the years. A true inspiration to all of us.
I was one of the many, many students at John I Burton High School in Norton, VA, who was lucky enough to have Mrs. Neeley for an English teacher. I was even luckier to be one of the young people in the Methodist Youth Fellowship (at the Norton church), where she was also our sponsor and counselor. I was luckier still to be able to play piano and organ duets with her for the Sunday evening services at that church. And luckiest of all to have had her as a wonderful and very much-loved lifelong friend. My life as a church musician really began with her, and my arrangement of "Jesus, Love of My Soul," Charles Wesley's great hymn text is most gratefully and lovingly dedicated to her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr0jTnPffYk
