Naomi H. Bethea 77, passed away of peacefully on November 17, 2014 at her home in Chesapeake,Virginia. Although she has departed this phase of her life, she now forever lives in the arms of the Father... for to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Mrs. Bethea was born in Portsmouth, Virginia to Bishop Paul M. and Cornelia Howard on February 27, 1937. She was a graduate of I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia before continuing her formal education at Norfolk State College where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Hampton Institute. Mrs. Bethea retired from the Norfolk Public School System after 37 wonderful and dedicated years of teaching grades one through six. She also served the Lord for most of her life through her love for music while serving as the pianist for multiple churches in the Tidewater area. She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years Robert L. Bethea Sr, her dearly beloved siblings, Vivian Stanley, Paul Howard(Lilly) John Howard(Mable) Virginia Thompson and Cornelia Wyatt. She is also survived by four endearing sons; Robert L. Bethea Jr.(Mearen) Reginald C. Bethea(Libby)Timothy L. Bethea(Melissa) Nikita R. Bethea (Letrice) and a host of dearly loved grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other devoted family and friends