Betty Jo (Norton) Lee

Betty Jo Lee peacefully entered into the presence of the Lord on August 2, 2026. Surrounded by the love of her family throughout her life, she leaves behind a legacy of devotion, kindness, and unwavering love.

Betty was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 47 years, Kenneth K. Lee, and by her parents, Essie Lee Norton and Charles Frank Norton of the Florence, South Carolina area.

She is lovingly remembered by her four children: Ronnie (Cynthia), Kenneth, Terry (Amanda), and Penny (Stewart). She is also survived by ten grandchildren, twenty-five great-grandchildren, her sisters, Jessie Odom and Elizabeth Turner, and her brother, Fred Norton (Patsy), along with many extended family members and cherished friends.

Betty's greatest love story began with her husband, Kenneth. Their marriage took them around the world through Kenneth's service in the United States Air Force, with assignments in Texas, Georgia, Germany, Arkansas, Michigan, North Dakota, Belgium, and eventually back to South Carolina. Following Kenneth's retirement from the Air Force in 1974, they made their home in Myrtle Beach, where they raised their family and continued their careers.

A dedicated and hardworking woman, Betty held many positions throughout her life, including work with Mayflower Moving Company, the Teen Club at SHAPE, Belgium, Belk's Department Store, and later the commissary at Randolph Air Force Base, where she continued working well into her seventies. She believed in staying active and often joked that she should go back to work, even after retirement.

While Betty took pride in her work, her true calling was caring for her family. She found joy in creating a welcoming home, tending the family garden alongside Kenneth, and preparing meals that became treasured family traditions. Her chicken and rice, banana pudding, chocolate cake, peach cobbler, fruitcake cookies, sausage and egg biscuits, and sausage cheese balls will be fondly remembered by generations of family members.

During their years in Summerville, South Carolina, Betty and Kenneth created a home filled with love, laughter, and lasting memories. Summers spent there with grandchildren, working in the garden and sharing family meals, became treasured moments that will never be forgotten.

Later in life, Betty enjoyed living near her sons in Texas, where she celebrated the marriages of her grandchildren and welcomed many great-grandchildren into the family. In 2020, she returned to Myrtle Beach with her daughter, Penny, where they enjoyed reconnecting with the family's roots and the beach they both loved.

Above all else, Betty's life was defined by her love for her family. In her final years, her thoughts remained with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She treasured every visit and every phone call. The question she asked most often—"When are you coming home?"—captured the love that filled her heart and the home she built for those she cherished.

Though she will be deeply missed, Betty's legacy lives on through the generations she loved so dearly. Her faith, warmth, generosity, and enduring love will continue to inspire all who knew her.

A Celebration of Betty's life will be held on Friday August 7, 2026 at 2pm at Burroughs Funeral Home, 3558 Old Kings Highway, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576. The family will greet friends following the service. 

To view these details online or to offer words of comfort through the online guestbook, please visit www.burroughsfh.com

Burroughs Funeral Home and Cremation Service (843.651.1440) of Murrells Inlet is assisting the family with arrangements.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.