02/15/2026
The Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Cemetery Organization Mourns the Loss of Our Former President, Roberta “Betty” Campbell Lopez
The Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Cemetery Organization (BMECRO) has lost a beloved leader, advocate, and faithful steward. We honor the life and legacy of our former President, Roberta “Betty” Campbell Lopez, who served with dedication and heart.
Mrs. Lopez was the embodiment of service. Beautiful, strong, selfless, fearless, graceful, and fierce, these words describe not only who she was, but how she lived. Born and raised in Archer, Florida, her life was rooted in love for her family, her community, and the history that shaped it.
As President of BMECRO, she carried a deep sense of responsibility to preserve and protect the Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Cemetery. She understood that this sacred ground holds the stories of generations, veterans, ancestors, and families whose lives helped build the Archer community. Under her leadership, preservation was not simply a task; it was a mission. She worked tirelessly to ensure that the cemetery remained a place of dignity, remembrance, and honor for all who rest there.
Mrs. Lopez believed that service meant stepping forward when something needed to be done. If she saw a need, she acted, quietly, faithfully, and without seeking recognition. Her commitment to honoring the past was matched only by her determination to strengthen the future.
Her life of leadership extended far beyond the cemetery. She made history as the first African American woman elected to the Archer City Commission, served as Vice Mayor, and in 2010 became Archer’s first African American female Mayor. She also helped lead efforts that transformed an abandoned 1936 school gymnasium into the Archer Community Center, raising significant funding and bringing new life to a cherished space for generations to come.
But to this organization, she will always be remembered first as a protector of history, a voice for preservation, and a champion for the community.
She often reminded others that we should spend less time asking, “What can I get?” and more time asking, “Who can I help?” She lived by those words every day.
Roberta “Betty” Campbell Lopez was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and advocate. Her love for Archer was protective and fierce, and her impact will continue to be felt in the lives she touched and in the sacred ground she worked so hard to preserve.
The Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Cemetery Organization is forever grateful for her leadership, her vision, and her years of faithful service. Her legacy lives on in the history she helped protect and in the example, she set for all of us.
She did it her way — and her way made a difference.
