Elizabeth (Betty) Roberts of the Villages, formerly of Washington, DC and Greensboro, NC, passed away at age 87 on July 21, 2020, after a valiant fight with pulmonary fibrosis.
Betty was born in Pittsburgh, PA to the late John and Martha (Cole) Ferguson. After high school, Betty moved to Washington, DC where she met and married Donald Roberts, the love of her life. In 1987, they retired to Greensboro, NC. But it was still too cold, and they loved golf, so in 2001 they moved to The Villages Florida. Betty worked as a legal secretary for the Patent Office most of her adult life, but her passion was art. She went back to school, earning a degree in Fine Arts, and was always painting, or creating, or refinishing something.
She was also a voracious sewer, for years making most of her and her daughter’s clothes. She even reupholstered her furniture, some pieces many times. She loved oil painting the most, specializing in still life, but she also loved china painting, and created so many beautiful pieces. She was the happiest when she was creating something. She was a loving and generous wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and will be dearly missed by her family.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her beloved husband of almost 60 years, Don, and her brothers John, Bill and Russell Ferguson. Betty is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Jim Harris of The Villages, two grandchildren, Samantha Mills of Summerfield, FL, James Mills and his wife, Elena of Manassas, VA, and five great grandchildren, Tyler, Aniya, Jaxon, Dominic and Leia Mills, along with several nieces and nephews.
Betty will be interred at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell at a later date with her husband Don. A memorial service is postponed due to the covid-19 pandemic, and friends and family will be notified of plans for a celebration of life when it is safe to gather. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Sumter County SPCA, online at yhsspca.org or send to Sumter County SPCA, P.O. Box 67 Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538, or Cornerstone Hospice online at donate.cshospice.org or send to Cornerstone Hospice Foundation, 2445 Lane Park Rd., Tavares, FL 32778, or a charity of your choice.
