September 14, 1946 ~ April 4, 2026 (age 79)
Elizabeth “Bets” Way Roper Golden, a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away on April 4, 2026, at Bethany House in Auburn.
Born in Petersburg, Virginia, on September 14, 1946, Bets was the daughter of Thomas Preston Trigg Roper Sr. and Emma “Kippy” Way Thompson Roper. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Thomas Preston Trigg Roper Jr.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 53 years, Dr. Michael Stanley Golden (Mike); her son, Christopher Miles Golden, and his wife, Sara; her grandchildren, Brenden and Briella; her sisters, Margaret Trigg Roper (Cliff) and Jean Trigg Roper Hogan (Jack); her nephews, Robert Paul Johnson and David Patrick Johnson; and her devoted caregiver Maggy, and her children, Sergio, Ruby, Vincente Jr, and Carlos.
A Mary Baldwin College graduate in Biology, Bets later earned a Master of Science in Botany from the University of Tennessee, where she met Mike. After marrying in 1972, she taught at Alabama A&M University for two years.
The couple moved to Auburn in 1975, where Bets taught Botany before transitioning to counseling once her son Chris reached Junior High. She served at the Alabama Sheriff’s Girl Ranch, Children’s Harbor, and a mentor’s private practice before opening her own Christian counseling practice in Auburn.
Bets deeply loved her family and treasured time spent together, especially outdoors. One of her most beloved places was her family’s Lake Margaret in Virginia, where loved ones gathered over the years to enjoy nature and one another’s company. Locally, Lake Martin was a favorite destination. She and Mike loved to hike in the Smokies and in the mountains of the Western US and Canada. Together, they traveled to Alaska, Canada, Israel, Greece, Turkey, and Switzerland. Whether walking around the neighborhood lake or spending quiet moments in prayer for others, Bets lived a life rooted in care, faith, and connection.
A faithful member of the McGehee-Lacy Sunday School Class, Bets found joy and fellowship in her church community. She especially loved to pray for others. For many years she would pray with the pastors before the AUMC Sunday morning service. She and her friend Jean Werner founded and developed a program they named “Friends of Internationals”. They recruited local families to befriend Auburn University students who came from foreign countries. She had a special passion for children, education, mental health, and the environment—causes that reflected her generous and compassionate spirit.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, April 11, at 11:00 a.m. at Auburn United Methodist Church, preceded by a 10:00 a.m. visitation in Hamill Court.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bets’ memory to a charity of your choice.
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