Since April 1991, Betsy Wright Rhodes has penned The Virginian-Pilot’s weekly Religion Page column, “Issues of Faith.”
Every Saturday, the column tackles some of life’s most difficult problems, always asking: How do people of faith cope in God’s world today?
A 1978 cum laude graduate of Shepherd College (now Shepherd University) in Shepherdstown, W. Va., Betsy majored in History, minoring in Journalism. She was a reporter for the school’s newspaper for three years and was the editor of the campus yearbook in 1977.
A Pilot staff writer since 1989, Betsy covered the religion beat for the paper’s tab, The Chesapeake Clipper for two years prior to becoming the main sheet religion columnist in April 1991. She has also held brief stints at the newspaper as a features writer and a copy editor.
Prior to her years at the Pilot, Betsy was a reporter and section editor for The Martinsburg Journal (daily) in Martinsburg, W.Va.; the Managing Editor of The Potomac Guardian (weekly) in Shepherdstown, W.Va.; and the Editor-in-Chief of The Suburbanite (weekly) in Winston-Salem, N.C.
From 1982 to 1989, Betsy took time off from her journalism career to be the caretaker for her first husband, Elliott Wright, who died of ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 1986; and for their two young children, Luke and Caroline.
Betsy, 49, is married to Bernie Rhodes, a 30-year veteran and 2004 retiree of the Virginia Dept. of Corrections. Bernie is a resource specialist for the Gateway to College Program for the College of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, N.C.
Betsy and Bernie are the parents of four: Caroline, 24, a graduate of the University of Virginia who lives in Norfolk and is currently enrolled in the EVMS Physician’s Assistant masters degree program; Jordannah, 11, a rising 6th grader; and Jonathan, 9, a rising 4th grader; and the late Luke Wright, who completed suicide in August, 2003 at the age of 23.
The family lives in Edenton, NC, where they attend and are active in St. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church.
In her spare time, Betsy is a speaker, teacher, and moderator for various programs at area houses of faith and for civic groups, and is the coordinator of the Nexus Interfaith Dialogue Program. She is also a member of the NCCJ, the National Conference for Community and Justice; a member of The Unity Coalition, a group of area journalists and citizens dedicated to making the local media outlets more aware of the many diversity issues within Hampton Roads; and a board member of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom at Virginia Wesleyan College.
Betsy and Bernie have been active in the Hampton Roads Survivors of Suicide group and Betsy is a staunch advocate for suicide/depression awareness, and for awareness about the needs of survivors. Following the death of her son, Betsy wrote a series of articles about her and her family’s journey through grief and about surviving the suicide of a loved one. She has been a supporter and organizer for this year’s Out of the Darkness Walk, believing it will provide healing for many and education for all.
