Betty Jean Searcy Morrow, 91, wife of the late Roy Morrow, went to be with the Lord June 20, 2026.
Born Feb. 19, 1935, in Polk County, North Carolina to the late Ralph and Easter Laughter Searcy, she was their second child in a family of eight children and three stepchildren. Betty lived at home and helped care for their younger children for several years. Whole she was at home, she and the rest of the siblings attended Coopers Gap Baptist Church with their mother. Betty was saved and baptized in Joe Pond and became a member of Coopers Gap Baptist Church when she was a teenager. She continued to live in her faith for the rest of her life.
When she left home, she moved to Lake Lure with her sister, where she worked as a waitress at El Tango Restaurant serving customers. She always loved working in food, especially serving others. Later, she and her sister moved to Hendersonville. There she worked as a waitress at the Village Inn, where she met her first husband Charles Coggins, and they got married. They sold the restaurant and moved to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and bought stock in Wester Steer Steak Houses. Betty worked as a waitress at Western Steer until her husband became sick and passed away. She remained in Tennessee until she was able to sell their home and dispose of all their assets.
Mrs. Morrow moved back to Polk County, where she contacted her second husband, O’Neal Coggins, whom she’s known from her first marriage. She and O’Neal married and moved to Greer, South Carolina. There they loved and became members of First Baptist Church, Greer. They were active in their church, especially with the Friendly Neighbors Club for seniors. All the while, she cooked and served activities at their church. She just could not get away from cooking and serving others. On several occasions, she would cook a big pot of turnip greens and take them to the church. All the greens and cornbread would be eaten. They also scheduled the trips and travelled a lot with their church group. She and O’Neal attended First Baptist Church, Greer, for 20 plus years, until he became ill and passed away. \
Betty brings to mind the scripture in the book of John, Chapter 12, where Martha was cooking for Jesus and Lazarus, when Jesus went to Mary and Marthas house to lodge after he raised Lazarus from the dead.
She continued to live in Greer, where she met her third husband, Roy Morrow. They married and lived in Greer approximately 5 years before he passed away. She continued to live in Greer until her brother, Charles, built her a house in Polk County next to he and his wife, Evelyn.
After about 10 plus years, she became disabled and chose to go to the nursing facility White Oak Manor, now Hilltop Health & Rehabilitation. She went to the facility in Jan.of 2016 and has loved it there ever since. She enjoyed doing crafts, playing bingo, doing sit and fit exercises, going to church services at the facility and being able to fellowship with the other residents until she became sick, and had to be placed under hospice care on Oct. 1, 2025. Bettys family wishes to commend them on the excellent job they have done.
Surviving are two stepsons, Jack Coggins (Suzanne) and Don Coggins (Kim); two step grandchildren, Corrie Coggins and Jay Coggins; one great-grandchild; a very special niece, Ella Rose Lee; a sister, Annette Sanders (Bud); and two sisters-in-law, Evelyn Searcy and Martha Searcy.
Mrs. Morrow was predeceased by three husbands, Charles Coggins, O’Neal Coggins, and Roy Morrow; five brothers, Herman Searcy, Oscar Searcy, Donald Searcy, Charles Searcy, and Gary Searcy; a half-brother, Mack Searcy; and two half-sisters, Elsie Gibbs and Margie Burnette.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. June 24 at The Wood Mortuary Chapel conducted by Rev. Dwayne Sherman. Burial will follow in Sharon United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 1 to 1:45 p.m. June 24 at The Wood Mortuary.
The family will be at their respective homes.
Online condolences may be made to www.thewoodmortuary.com.
