Annie Marcelle Bethea

Annie Marcelle Jackson Bethea will soon reach a milestone.On Sunday, she will turn 90.Known to friends simply as "Mrs.Marcelle," Bethea said Wednesday that she is a deeply devout woman whose Christian faith is the staff that supports her on life's journey.

On Saturday, friends and family members joined her at Galilee United Methodist Church's fellowship hall for a birthday celebration.Bethea said she has been a member of the Laurinburg church since childhood.

"I have been and still am active in the church," she stated, making a small concession to age, "though not as much as I have been.I try to walk closely with God.I very much enjoy helping others."

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Born in Laurinburg, Bethea was the first of four children of the late Jessie Smitherman Jackson and the late Dr. Nathaniel Edward Jackson.At the age of 18, she wed the late Willie C. Bethea.The couple called themselves "Bill and Billie," and they were separated only by Willie Bethea's passing after 42 years of marriage.

"Mrs. Marcelle" is an alumna of the Laurinburg Institute, and she attended Fayetteville State, Winston-Salem State and N.C. A&T universities.She obtained bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees in elementary education.

Bethea served for 40 years in Scotland County schools, and taught fifth grade at the Laurinburg Institute and I. Ellis Johnson.
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Currently, Bethea is a member of several church boards at Galilee.She served many years as the chairwoman of the Jackson, McLean, Albrooks Circle at the church, and she has only recently stepped down from that post.

She enjoys membership in the Ouda Court Number 151, the Daughters of Isis; the Order of the Eastern Star; and the Laurinburg Branch of the National Association of University Women.She has served as the Illustrious Commander and Deputy of Oasis, as well as the Loyal Lady Ruler of the Golden Circle.

Church friends describe Bethea as a cheerful, pleasant lady whose personality exudes warmth and whose friendly smile is ever-present.She expresses a firm faith in God, they say, through her calm and caring nature.

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Mary Carlson, a former colleague, and Shirley Bass, a former student, remembered humorous anecdotes spanning Bethea's four decades in education.
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Bethea summed up her philanthropic desires on Wednesday.

"It makes me feel good to help others," she said simply."I always like to help people."