Betty Jane “B.J.” Watkins Weatherby

Weatherby—Betty Jane “B.J.” Watkins Weatherby, 91, on October 10, 2023, at Friends Homes in Greensboro, N.C. B.J. was born on September 30, 1932, to Roscoe M. Watkins and Margaret Elizabeth Leckey Watkins in Grant, Neb. She had a twin brother, two older sisters, and a younger sister. B.J. loved being part of a big, loving family. She enjoyed cheerleading, dance, and playing the saxophone and piano.

B.J. began her college career at the University of Colorado. An early marriage ending in divorce caused her to drop out. She completed a bachelor’s degree in 1980 and a master’s degree in 1984 at New York University. In Princeton, N.J., B.J. worked for Educational Testing Service and for James Conant, managing a staff that was conducting a Carnegie Foundation study of American high schools.

In 1958, B.J. met Philip Grandin Weatherby III in New York City. They married on December 4, 1959, in New York. Phil had two sons by a previous marriage, Michael and Craig. The family made their home in Darien, Conn., where their daughter, Tracy, was born in 1961. B.J. developed policy and curriculum goals for the Darien School System.

In 1966, the family moved to Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. B.J. helped found the League of Women Voters in Saint Thomas and served as its second president. In 1972, she was elected to the Board of Elections. In addition, she served on commissions related to land use and capital improvements.

In 1974, B.J. was serving on the Board of Trustees of Antilles School, a private school where Tracy attended. B.J. was appointed headmistress and served in that role for five years.

In 1980, B.J. and Phil moved to Detroit, Mich., where she was headmistress of the Friends School of Detroit. Phil died in 1982. In 1985, B.J. moved to Greensboro, N.C., to serve as headmistress of New Garden Friends School. There she found a wonderful community, which included Friendship Meeting. She joined the Board of Visitors for Guilford College.

In 1987, B.J. formed a desktop publishing company, Friendly Desktop Publishing. She did the layout for Friendly Woman, which was produced at that time by Friendship Meeting and New Garden Meeting. She did projects for other Friends’ organizations including North Carolina Yearly Meeting, North Carolina Friends Historical Society, and Friends Homes. B.J. had a thriving business producing brochures, handbooks, and books for many years.

In 1988, B.J. reconnected with her high school boyfriend, Vernie Nielsen. They had not seen each other for 40 years. Following three weeks of letters and one visit, on November 25, 1988, they married under the care of Friendship Meeting. With marriage to Vernie, B.J. gained another daughter, Nanette Sue. B.J. joined New Garden Meeting.

In 2012, Vernie and B.J. moved to Friends Homes at Guilford, where B.J. continued her activism by organizing and moderating candidate forums and working on Greensboro land use planning. She loved travel and celebrations with friends and family.

B.J. was diagnosed with dementia around 2017, but it progressed slowly. In 2021, she moved into skilled care at Friends Homes.

B.J. was predeceased by her second husband, Phil Weatherby; her twin brother, Billy Bob Watkins; and three sisters, Martha Jeanne Watkins Pierpoint, Barbara Beth Watkins Aten, and Frances Rowena Watkins Beers.

She is survived by her husband, Martin LaVerne “Vernie” Nielsen; four children, Michael Frederick Weatherby, Craig Nelson Weatherby, Tracy Dianne Weatherby, and Nanette Sue “Nan” Nielsen Hong; and several grandchildren.