Betty Groce

Betty Smith Groce, 91, of Spartanburg, SC died Saturday, May 28, 2022. She was the widow of Paul J. Groce, Jr and a native of Union, SC. She was the daughter of the late Frank and Bessie Edwards Smith. She lived a life of service to family and community as a mother, grandmother, teacher and volunteer.

A graduate of Union High School, she attended Spartanburg Junior College (Spartanburg Methodist College) and the University of South Carolina (Spartanburg). Betty earned her undergraduate degree and then her master’s from U.S.C.

Betty retired from a career in teaching in 1992 from Spartanburg District 7. She was a member of the South Carolina Education Association, the National Education Association, the Spartanburg Teachers’ Association and the South Carolina Retired Teachers’ Association. She was also a former member of the James F. Byrnes Secretaries Association, the Spartanburg Junior Women’s Club and a Life Member of the South Caroline PTA Association.

Betty was a dedicated volunteer. A Charter Member and Treasurer of the Hospice Auxiliary, she supported SRHS Hospice. She supported Guest Relations and served years as a Surgical Waiting Room Volunteer. Betty also gave generous time to Spartanburg Mobile Meals over many years.

She served as a member and later as Chairperson of the Foster Children’s Review Board 7-A, appointed to the position by the Governor of South Carolina. Betty was awarded the President’s Lifetime Volunteer Service Award, created by President George W. Bush, in recognition of her 4000+ hours service and “acts of kindness and decency (to) make our country a better place”.

Betty is a former Secretary of the Spartanburg County Republicans and the Spartanburg Republican Women.

She was a member of St. Andrews U.M.C., Lay Leader, Church Treasurer, and former member of the United Methodist Women.

She is survived by her son, Paul J. Groce, III and daughter-in-law Jennifer Edwards Groce of Pawleys Island, granddaughter, Caroline Morgan Groce of Orange County, California and Austin Groce, Cadet at the U.S.M.A. West Point, New York. Betty is also survived by her sister Jo Ann Sweatt of Union. Her deceased family members are sisters Cornelia Lawter, Sara White, Louise Price and Ruth Parks and brother Frank “Buck” Smith.

The family will receive friends and host a Memorial service at 11:00 am Monday, June 20, 2022 at St. Andrews Methodist Church, 211 S. Main Street, Clifton, SC 29324.

In lieu of flowers, please offer memorials to: St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 151 Chain Gang Hill Road, Spartanburg 29307-4812; Spartanburg Mobile Meals, PO Box 461, Spartanburg SC 29304 www.mobile-meals.org or to Spartanburg Regional Hospice, 101 East Wood Street, Spartanburg SC 29303 www.regionalfoundation.com

Floyd’s North Church Street Chapel