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CONWAY, NC – Betty Jean Strickland Allen Holland passed away peacefully on August 19, 2020 at Vidant North Hospital in Roanoke Rapids, NC.

She was predeceased by her parents, Johnny and Gladys Strickland; her siblings, John, Wayne, Doug, and James “Doodle Bug” Strickland and Carolyn S. Twisdale; her husbands, Robert R. Allen and Lewis C. “Toby” Holland; and her nieces and nephews, Brenda, Casey, Tonya, Tammy and Jamie Strickland, and Troy and Stewart Twisdale.

Betty Jean was born on April 26, 1934 at the old Roanoke Rapids Hospital in Roanoke Rapids, NC. She grew up in Weldon, NC the eldest of nine children. Her siblings were talented musicians, everyone except her; she was more of a comedian and excelled at academics.

Betty Jean was extremely smart, graduating as the Valedictorian of her class at Weldon High School in 1952. Upon graduation she briefly took a job with the Civil Service. In December 1952 she married Robert R. Allen and moved to Conway, NC. Both of their children were born in 1954. She attended and was a Sunday school teacher at Zion United Methodist Church in Conway, NC for thirteen and a half years. There she was known fondly as “Miss Betty Jean.”

She was always a hard worker. She worked over twenty years at Talon Zipper Factory in Woodland, NC. After retiring from Talon she worked part-time at a local grocery store in Murfreesboro, NC. She quickly became everyone’s favorite cashier. She always had a smile and enjoyed making people feel special.

Affectionately known to most as “Granny”, she never met a stranger and was a friend to all. If there was just one word to describe Granny it was Love. She loved everybody and she let them know it. She opened her home, her heart, her pocketbook and her kitchen to anyone in need. She fed everyone who showed up at her door anytime day or night and enjoyed every minute of it. All the family gatherings were at her house for as long as she remained there.

After being cared for at Pine Forest Rest Home in Potecasi for several years and at home by family and other caregivers, Granny went to Hampton Woods Nursing Home on January 10, 2009. There she was affectionately known to many as Betty Hollywood where she became the Queen of Bingo and of everyone’s heart. The staff there became her second family and provided her with excellent care for the remaining years of her life.

There are so many fond memories and funny stories we could write a book or two. Most importantly, Granny loved everyone and was loved by all who knew her. She enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest.

Left to cherish her precious memory are her children and their spouses, Audrey and Rob Nicholson and Robert Ray “Shakey” and Denise Allen, all of Conway, and Kenneth Holland of Chesapeake, VA and William “Pug” Holland of Suffolk, VA. Also surviving are grandchildren, Denise Fleetwood, Michelle and husband Johnny Davis, Blake and wife Crystal Bryant, Lee Nicholson, Kaela Holland and Danielle Holland; great-grandchildren, Christian and Erica Fleetwood, Allison and husband Alan Satterfield, Jarrett and wife Catarina Davis, Nik Harris, Chance Bryant, Roby and Jackson Nicholson, Emmanuwa and Emmaiyah Bailey, Dakariya Jean Perry, DeVonneta Beamon and Nykaelah Holland; great-great grandchildren, Brantley and Emily Satterfield; siblings and their spouses, sister, Yvonne and husband Grady Elias, brother, Randy and wife Joann Strickland, and brother, Frankie and wife Doris Strickland; and nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces, Joseph “Toot”, Taylor and Hayden Elias; Michael, Shelly and Jordan Strickland, Tony and Wendy Strickland, Angie, Donald and Tresa Keeter and Shannon, Andres and Violet Valencia; Roy, Alicia and Bradley Twisdale; and Larry Wayne and Paul Strickland.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, August 30, 2020 at 2:00 pm at Conway United Methodist Church in Conway, NC. We will practice social distancing.

A private service will be held by the family at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you “Pay It Forward” in some way to help someone in need as that is what Granny would do. The family would like to thank all healthcare providers who ever worked with Granny in any capacity and all staff at Pine Forest Rest Home and Hampton Woods for the excellent care she received. A special thanks to the ICU and 5th floor staff at Vidant North Hospital for taking great care of her during her last days. Finally, the family would like to thank the community for all acts of kindness shown during this time.

Bridgers Funeral Home, Conway, is serving the family.