REIDSVILLE, N.C. - Mrs. Bettie Joe Luking, 87, stepped peacefully into heaven with her family at her bedside on January 26, 2018.

Bettie was born on July 29, 1930 in a ferryman's house overlooking the Savannah River in Lincoln County, GA to the late Gordon and Pauline Bradford. She married husband, Bill in 1957 moving to Ohio where they raised their family. Later the two retired to a log cabin they built together on a farm back in Lincoln County – a treasured destination for all their grandkids. Bettie's last five years were spent at the Annie Penn Nursing Center in Reidsville, NC, where her husband of 61 years provided loving support each day and evening during her long journey home.

Bettie's lasting legacy is the countless years of loving effort and steadfast devotion she gave to her family; her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy. We will miss her smile, her hugs, her wisdom, her presence and her legendary cooking. We are blessed to have had her in our lives.

She is survived by her husband, Bill Luking of Reidsville, NC; daughter, Lisa Shriver and husband, Bill of Wilmington, NC; sons, Steve Luking, MD and wife, Sara and Scott Luking, MD and wife, Liz of Reidsville, NC; grandchildren, Anna, Mary, Melinda and Forrest Luking, Ashley Shriver and Christie DeJulio and husband, Jeff; great grandsons, Billy and Marcus; her sisters, Bobbie Wilkinson and Elsie Politano both of Lincolnton, GA and Rosa Lee Blanton of Spartanburg, SC and a large extended family.

The family would like to express deep gratitude to the staff of Annie Penn Nursing Center for their tender and excellent care for Bettie.

Always a faithful member of her local church, Bettie's funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at Pine Grove United Methodist Church in Lincoln County, GA with Dr. Benny Pate officiating. She will be laid to rest in the Pine Grove Church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until the hour of service in the church sanctuary.

In lieu of flowers, please express any memorial contributions to Reidsville Outreach Center, 435 SW Market St, Reidsville, NC 27320.

Wilkerson Funeral Home is assisting the family with local arrangements and condolences may be made to the family at www.wilkersonfuneral.com .

You may sign the family's online guestbook at: www.reesfuneralhome.net.

Rees Funeral Home, 195 N. Peachtree St., Lincolnton, GA. 706-359-3222 is in charge of funeral arrangements.