City's tourism director dies
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on May 3, 2016 1:46 PM
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Betsy Rosemann
Goldsboro's travel and tourism director, Betsy Rosemann, was found dead in her home Monday morning by a city staff member. She was 55 years old.
"She didn't report to work today (Monday), and a staff person went to check on her and found her, so that's how we heard about it," said City Manager Scott Stevens.
Stevens said the city will begin the process of replacing Ms. Rosemann's position, and in the meantime assistant city manager Randy Guthrie and administrative assistant Amber Hoggard will share the responsibilities left by Ms. Rosemann, while additional city staff will fill in as needed.
According to a death investigation report filed by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, Ms. Rosemann was found lying in her backyard at 246 Ole Vineyard Road by Ms. Hoggard just before 11 a.m. Monday morning.
"It was a shock to us," Stevens said.
"Betsy was well liked and always a happy person, always willing to do whatever, and we'll miss her, but we'll have to figure out a way through it."
Stevens said it was not immediately clear to the city whether or not Ms. Rosemann had died Monday morning or sometime during the weekend.
According to the report filed by the sheriff's office, Ms. Rosemann was last seen by a neighbor at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The city's travel and tourism office is located in the same building as the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President Kate Daniels said the news came as a shock to herself and her staff.
"I don't know even if you asked me in a week I would be able to respond to what Betsy has meant to this community," Mrs. Daniels said.
"She's worked tirelessly to promote Wayne County, and she did her job with her heart and with more energy and enthusiasm and creativity than I can say."
Ms. Rosemann, whose full name was Marian Barrett Rosemann, was the city's travel and tourism director since 2005, when travel and tourism was a branch of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. Travel and Tourism became a city department in 2012.
Ms. Rosemann's death, according to a sheriff's office report, is believed to have been related to a medical condition.
"It's a blessing to have known her and to have called her a friend," Mrs. Daniels said.
"She was an example of what it was to be 'great people.'"