Bettie Buehler Lapham

Bettie Center Buehler Lapham of Oxford, NC, formerly of Dothan, AL, passed away Friday, December 2, 2016 at her home after an extended illness. She was 64. Visitation will be on Monday, December 12, 2016 at 12pm. Graveside service to follow with Reverend Patrick Gallagher officiating at Memory Hill Cemetery. The family will be receiving friends at the home of her daughter, Emily Tharpe. Bettie was born on July 7, 1952 to the late Harry and Elizabeth Center of Carbon Hill, AL. She moved to Dothan, AL in 1971 after attending the University of Alabama. She was a member of St. Columba Catholic Church. She received her nursing degree from Wallace College and worked as a nurse for 35 years before retiring due to kidney cancer. Bettie loved being a nurse. She was outgoing and never met a stranger. Before moving to Oxford, she worked at several different hospitals over the course of her career including Southeast Alabama Medical Center, Geneva Hospital and Dale Medical. In 2010, she moved to Oxford, NC. After moving to Oxford, she spent her time with her beloved Pekingese and love to go fishing. Bettie was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Harry E. Center III. Flowers will be accepted or contributions to the American Cancer Society. She is survived by a daughter, Emily Helms Tharpe (Dwayne) and a son Billy J. Helms (Sunny); her sister, Suzanne Parker (Loren) of Blaine, WA; four grandchildren Andrew Tharpe, Justin Tharpe, Jasper Helms and Addison Helms; and special friend Jimmy Henson of Oxford, NC.