Betsy June Johnson Shaw, a devoted historical preservationist, civic leader, and lifelong advocate for the history of Raleigh, passed away on April 3, 2026.

Born on August 8, 1932, in Atlanta, Georgia, Betsy was the daughter of James Ernest Johnson and Mary Louise Riggan Johnson. Her early years were shaped by her father’s work with Postal Telegraph and Western Union, leading the family to live in New Orleans and Birmingham before settling in Raleigh, North Carolina, her mother’s hometown, following her father’s death in 1943. Raleigh became her beloved and lifelong home, a city whose history she would tirelessly work to preserve.

A graduate of Hugh Morson High School, Class of 1949 at the age of 16 yo. Betsy went on to attend Peace College and graduated in 1951. Her connection to Peace College remained a defining thread throughout her life. She served as President of the Peace College Alumnae Association from 1979 to 1981, representing more than 6,500 members, and received the Distinguished Alumnae Award in 1990. In 1980, she returned to Peace College as a nontraditional student, before transferring to North Carolina State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting in 1983 at the age of 50.

Betsy’s passion for history—particularly the preservation of Raleigh’s past—became her life’s work. Beginning in 1976, she led efforts to restore and recognize the gravesite of William Peace, founder of Peace College, in Raleigh’s City Cemetery. This initiative sparked decades of dedication to the cemetery’s preservation. She cataloged every gravestone beginning in 1979, creating the most complete index of those interred there and ultimately contributing to the cemetery’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

For 38 consecutive years, from 1977 to 2015, Betsy led the Wake County Historical Society’s annual Labor Day walking tour of City Cemetery, sharing the stories of both prominent as well as overlooked individuals buried there. She believed deeply that every life deserved to be remembered.

Among her most significant contributions was her work to honor Raleigh native Anna Julia Haywood Cooper. Anna Julia was a pioneering African American scholar and educator. She is the only woman quoted in the US passport.  Recognizing that Cooper lay in an unmarked grave in City Cemetery, Betsy marked her grave in 1979. In later years, she worked alongside scholars from Saint Augustine’s University to secure a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker in Cooper’s honor in 2010 in historic Oakwood. Her efforts helped ensure that Cooper’s legacy would not be forgotten.

Betsy was a founding board member and treasurer of Raleigh City Cemeteries Preservation, Inc., and the co-creator of the Shaw-Blunt City Cemetery Database, a lasting resource for researchers and historians. Her work also included documenting the cemetery’s enslaved section and uncovering historical records that brought previously untold stories to light.

Her dedication earned her numerous honors, including the Wake County Historical Society’s President’s Award in 2010 and recognition as The News & Observer’s “Tar Heel of the Week” in September 2009.  She also served on the Raleigh City Cemeteries Advisory Committee.

Beyond the City Cemetery, Betsy played a pivotal role in preserving Wake County’s Oak View property, helping ensure that her family’s historic farmland became the Oak View County Park. She later served on its advisory board and was recognized with the Ray Wilkinson Service Award and the Unsung Hero Award for her volunteerism.

Betsy’s professional life reflected her determination and intellectual curiosity. After early work at Carolina Power and Light (now Duke Energy), she returned to school midlife, earning her degree in accounting and passing the CPA exam on her first attempt. She worked with Peat Marwick (now KPMG) and later served as Assistant Controller for Robuck Homes until her retirement in 2008 at the age of 76.

An early member of Crabtree Valley Baptist Church, Betsy was active in church life as a Sunday school teacher and choir member. She was also a devoted member of Tabernacle Baptist Church in downtown Raleigh from her youth until the 1970s.

She was preceded in death by her husband, R. Leon Shaw, whom she married on September 19, 1953. Together, they built a life in Raleigh rooted in family, faith, and community.

Betsy is survived by her three children: Robert Leon Shaw, Jr. (Jessica Lynn Shaw) of Orlando, Florida; Betsy O’Riggan Shaw-Cope (A. Mark Cope) of Raleigh, and Mary-Cassie Shaw, MD (Charles Cleary) of Chapel Hill. She is also survived by her eight grandchildren: Meredith Shaw, Mackenzie Shaw, Alden Cope, Riggan Cope, Morgan Cope, Cassie Cleary, Mollie Cleary, and “Janie” Cleary.

In addition to her many accomplishments, Betsy will be remembered for her deep curiosity, her love of learning, and her unwavering commitment to preserving the stories of others. Through her work, countless lives—famous and forgotten alike—will continue to be remembered.

Memorial service to be held graveside on Saturday, May 30, at 10:30, Hickory Avenue inside Oakwood Cemetery. Please linger afterward on site to share your stories of Betsy, our beloved mother and grandmother, with her family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Historic Oak View County Park:

PO Box 550

Raleigh, NC 27602

Or donate online at: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/wakeparks/donation/detail/3?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US

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