Elizabeth Clemmons Bethea nee Scarborough, also known as Elizabeth Bethay, of Uniondale, Long Island, New York left this life on Thursday, May 8, 2009 at a local hospital. She was 101 years old. Born on April 18, 1908 in Florence, South Carolina, Elizabeth was the youngest of a close-knit circle of five girls, the issue of Mary Jane nee Wells and Hampton Scarborough.

Her parents and her sisters, Sarah, Eugenia, Eliza and Harriet all predeceased her. Her mother, “Janie”, in fact, passed away when Elizabeth was just a toddler; and it was this common sense of loss and a concerted rebelliousness against their eventual stepmother that bound the sisters so tightly together. After two years of college, Elizabeth Scarborough would marry Leroy C. Clemmons, Sr. of Darlington, South Carolina. From that union sprang three progeny: Barbara (deceased in 1995), Leroy, Jr. and Joan.

Adversity and loss would again befall the upward-striving mother when Leroy, Sr. expired unexpectedly at age 39. The challenge of raising three children alone was characteristically met by Elizabeth with steely determination and selfless devotion to duty. She obtained as associate degree in Nursing and would work as a nurse for the entirety of her career at a Queens, New York hospital to support her family. In a second marriage to Preston Bethea (decxeased in 1988), Elizabeth Bethea undertook the upbringing of five foster children: Cheryl, Ronzella, Starlee, and Novelle McDonald; and Hezenia White. Applying the same principles of childrearing she had brought to bear previously, she again successfully developed contributing members of society.

In essence, Elizabeth Clemmons Bethea was the epitome of the good nuturing mother. Those who survive to cherish her memory are a son, Leroy C. Clemons; a devoted daughter Joan E. Clemmons, M.D.; three granddaughters: Elizabeth Brown-Whylie, Michele Walden and Dawn Burrell; a daughter-in-law, Carolyn M. Clemons; six greatgrand children; one great greatgrandson; numersous nieces and nephews; other relatives, foster children and friends. We shall miss her courage, strength and independence of spirit, dearly. Funereals were held on May 14, 2009 at Grace Lutheran Church, Uniondale, Long Island, New York were Mrs. Bethea worshiped for many years. She was laid to rest thereafter at Pinelawn Cemetery, Pinelawn, Long Island, New York.

Credentials: Associate Degree
Funeral Home Name: Hartnett
Funeral Home City: Uniondale

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