Betty Faye High Gillespie

Betty Faye High Gillespie, age 95, of Spartanburg passed away peacefully on February 20, 2024 at Eden Terrace of Spartanburg. Born August 24, 1928, in Gaston County, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Marshall R. High and Eula Abernathy High and the widow of the late Royce Nelson Gillespie to whom she was married for 70 years.

Betty was a graduate of Dallas, NC High School, and Gardner Webb Junior College (now Gardner Webb University) where she was a member of the May court, Phi Beta Kappa, and participated in numerous clubs. Her passion was acting in theatre productions. She married Royce in 1950 before he deployed with the Army to Korea. They shared a loving partnership and lived much of their married life in Spartanburg.   During those years, they raised three children, designed, and built their own home, hosted many family gatherings, participated in many church activities, and traveled with family and friends in the US and overseas. Betty delighted in spending time with her family and friends and gave unselfishly of her time and talents. As a gifted seamstress, Betty made clothes and home furnishings for her family and friends as well as banners for the church. With a strong faith in God, she was a faithful member of First Baptist Spartanburg for many years where she taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir, and was an active member of the Women’s Missionary Union. Volunteering for Mobile Meals of Spartanburg was her pleasure also. When her children were in college, she served as the Office Manager for Spartanburg County Alcohol and Drug Commission and later as the Secretary for the Medical Social Work department at Spartanburg General Hospital (now Spartanburg Regional Medical Center). She was a role model of love, kindness, and generosity for her family, friends, and anyone who encountered her. Whether making a favorite dish or giving a gift, she made a point of knowing one’s preferences and enjoyed doing something she knew would please.  

Betty was a devoted and beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. She is survived by two daughters Myra Michot (Alain) of Raleigh, NC and Miriam Davis (Ken) of Alpharetta, GA and a son Joel R. Gillespie (Melinda) of Asheville, NC.; five grandchildren, Aaron Gillespie (Lanny) of Charlotte, NC, Sarah Nakaji (Lane) of Asheville, NC, Kate Meador (Garrett) of Alpharetta, GA, Elizabeth Davis of San Francisco, CA, and Rebecca Davis of Atlanta, GA, and great grandchildren Gigi, Mary Reid, Betty, Norah, Alice, Georgia Reid, Davis, and Nellie Grace; sister Carolyn Glover (Tommy ) of Dallas, NC,  brother Reginald High (Katherine) of Knoxville, TN; and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by two sisters Laura Cochran and Sara High.  

A visitation will be held from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29307. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 pm in the chapel, conducted by the Rev. Sal Barone. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Road, Spartanburg, SC 29307.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Missions Ministry, 250 E. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306. 

The family is at the home.

The family would like to thank the staff of Eden Terrace and the staff of Family Hospice for their compassionate care of Betty.

An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com

Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel