Raleigh, N.C. — At the Hillsborough Street Waffle House, a cup of coffee was sure to always come with a side order of personality – if Ms. Betty was the server.

"Everybody knew her, and everybody loved her," said Charles Barnette, a longtime patron. She was the restaurant's most-requested waitress.

Betty Mathis Moody was her full name, but everyone called her Ms. Betty. For 28 years, the 76-year-old worked overnights, and she knew how to handle the North Carolina State University college crowd that frequented the place during her shift.

"Ms. Betty always had a way of telling them, 'If y'all don't quiet down, y'all won't be eating tonight,'" co-worker Maria Winkler said. "They always had a deep respect for her. She was definitely grandma amongst us."

Winkler said Ms. Betty loved her job – so much so that she would make the 80-minute commute five days a week from her home in Warrenton to Raleigh.

"She always said that the day she stopped working was the day she was going to die," Winkler said.

On Wednesday, Ms. Betty was driving home on U.S. Highway 401 in Wake Forest, when state troopers said, a car driven by Chad Rodman, 37, crossed the center line and collided with hers.

She never made it home.

"We're all gonna miss her very much," Winkler said. "I don't know if Waffle House is going to be the same without Ms. Betty here."

Those who knew her said Ms. Betty also had a way of helping the homeless. She'd pay for their meal, bring them a coat or provide them a place to stay.

"She did it because she obviously loved people and wanted to help them," Barnette said.

Ms. Betty is survived by two daughters, two sons and 11 grandchildren. The family will host a visitation at 7 p.m. Friday at Blaylock Funeral Home in Warrenton. Her funeral is Saturday.

Rodman, who was charged with driving while impaired and death by vehicle, was in jail Thursday afternoon under $25,000 bond.