Yesterday at 6:40pm, my dear mother-in-law graduated to heaven. Â She finally saw her Lord and Savior face to face. Â Oh what a great reunion that must have taken place!
When I look back at Betty Lou’s life, I can definitely say it has been blessed. Â She came from a family that worked hard and loved hard. Â She was the youngest of two other siblings, both of whom went to heaven ahead of her. Â She married the love of her life and had two children and four grandchildren. Â She was so proud of her family.
I have been with Ms. Betty Lou since the young age of 20. Â At that age, the first thing that stood out to me about her was her ability to laugh! Â She knew how to find joy in the simple things of life and lived life to the fullest! Â She seemed very secure and in charge in all areas.
I know it wasn’t easy for her to share her son. Â I don’t know that any mom knows how to prepare herself for that moment when her little boy finds a spouse, but she loved me. Â She was also a sweet connection to my own family since she spent many nights sleeping under my grandmother and granddaddy’s roof as a childhood friend of my aunt. Â Â I loved the fact that she was a tangible piece of my own sweet grandparent’s lives.
Ms. Betty Lou was welcoming and truly had the gift of hospitality. Â I remember our first Thanksgiving as a married couple, Ms. Betty Lou surprised me by inviting my parents (along with others who might not have local families) to join our meal. Â We were married just before Thanksgiving and I was already a little homesick. Â She was thoughtful to think of that.
She was a very generous woman who loved to cook good southern food and bake her famous pound cake. I can’t count the number of pound cakes she baked just in my years of being in her family. Â Seriously, she gave them away weekly to people. Â She gave everything to everyone. Â She would bring gifts of trinkets or food each time she came to our door and it was nearly impossible to leave her home empty handed.
I will forever think of Ms. Betty Lou when I remember the days of singing in the choir. Â She was a fellow alto and faithfully sang until the last few years of her life. Â During the many years we sat next to one another, she would grab my hand during prayer. Â It was then that she often took a quick peek of the sanctuary to see who was at church that day. Â Ha. Â She was something else for sure! Â She wanted everyone to be at church each Sunday and wondered where they were if they weren’t there. Â I bet she contacted them during the week to find out if they were okay.
As a family, we have so many funny stories of her life that we can remember and share. Â Â I’m sure each person who shared life with her has their own list of tales! Â One of the strangest things that shocked me when I visited her during UNC Tarheel basketball games was her passion. Â Seriously, she cheered and shouted at the television as if she was seated next to Dean Smith! Â She encouraged us all to join in with her hoots and hollers. Â It was strangely funny to me, but that is just another example of her love of life and laughter. Â It wouldn’t surprise me if she has already met Mr. Smith in heaven.
Sugar buckets, bird feeders, country crocks, pound cake, Â Tarheels, hymns, gardens, chow chow, tomato sandwiches, potato salad, chicken salad, turnip greens, and southern hospitality will always remind me of Ms. Betty Lou!
She loved her family, her church, and loved Jesus!
Loving Jesus is what mattered the most.
Goodbye for now Ms. Betty Lou. Â We will see you again one day. Â I am so thankful you are whole and full of true life now.
This is beautifully written, Beth. She was a very special lady. I remember her well and know my mother will be very sad to hear of her passing.
Thank you Allison.
Beautiful!!!!
Thank you friend.
You have said it all so well,so true in the short time I know her.what joy it must be to be with our Lord .
I agree Linda. What a day of rejoicing that will be! Love you!
Beth you said it just right. I know many encluding myself have shared in some of the memories you shared. I know that she can never be replaced or forgotten. Until we meet again Betty Lou, tell Jesus I said hello.
Love you Sister.
I love you too Steve, my little bro!
Beautiful! <3
Love you Angie!
Much love to all of you! I remember her from being good friends with Luanne in highschool.
She is happy and whole with Jesus now and awaits our joining her!!
Just shared this sad news with Mom. As you know, they were very best friends from childhood! Of course, Mom proceeded to tell many stories about their adventures for the next hour! Catching an owl (sleeping in the woods) in a peach basket and bringing it home…Granddaddy had a fit! The special way Betty Lou held a bar of Sweetheart soap :-)! Picking fresh green peppers from the garden and filling them with vinegar & salt…climbed a tree in the woods to eat their special snack. She loved bubble gum…brought her pennies to Granddaddy’s store to buy gum. Betty Lou was the Valedictorian of her high school class! Made dresses out of bleached feed sacks. Betty Lou’s delicious “Beat it Like A Fool” pound cake! An avid sports enthusiast! Everything she did, she did with all her might! Mom learned to treasure things from Betty Lou. She was the dearest friend!!!
Goodbye for now Betty Lou…”Bless her heart”! Helen adored you and will see you again! xoxo
Oh I LOVE it! I know David and Luanne would love to hear these stories. If you ever feel motivated to make a youtube of her sharing these tales, I would love to see it. Thanks Kelly!
I am sorry for your loss. Ms. Betty Lou sounds like a loving and fun person to have around. I am sure you will miss her. I miss being here. Hugs!
Thanks friend! Love you!
Beth,
Mrs. Betty Lou sound like a great lady. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to meet her. Our thoughts and prayers to you, D and S.
Beautifully written…straight from the heart.
Sending my condolences
What a lovely tribute to Betty Lou from a daughter-in-law, as well. That speaks volumes and,verifies a life well lived to glorify her Savior. Thanks for sharing. Our love to all your family. George and Betty Scruggs
Thank you Betty! God bless you!
Being a mil to dil’s, I can so appreciate this tribute. In a world where mil’s are given a bad rap, it’s so refreshing. So sorry for your earthly loss but thankful for your heavenly blessing
Thank you Carolyn! God bless you!
What a sweet tribute, Beth. Betty Lou was multi talented. She painted a picture once if Barbara and Ernest’s place and gave it to them. She was s wonderful cook. She gave me a jar of her pickle relish and her cinnamon buns were my favorite! She will be missed! My deepest sympathy to you all. It’s never easy to lose your mom. Love to all.
Thank you Sharon! I had forgotten about some of her other yummy treats! You just brought back some memories. Thank you so much!
I did not have the pleasure of knowing Ms. Betty Lou for very long, but she knew we had one thing in common, we liked sparkly clothes. I would always tell her how pretty she was and her reply was always the same, “How much do I owe you”? I wish I could have known her in her early years, I imagine we would have been great friends. Our loss, Heavens gain. Life is so short here on this earth! Thank God for giving us the opportunity to belong to Him and one day having the pleasure of being with Him and our loved ones forever and ever. With a heart full of love to her family!
Thank you Ellen. She was quite a character. 🙂
Your tribute to Ms. Betty Lou was lovely. She definitely was a UNC fan. Remember when she was checking the scores of the UNC basketball games during my wedding? 🙂 As for her pound cake, Mr. Hedrick said more than once he was going to marry her just so she’d make him pound cakes!
Oh, Beth! You, D and family are on my heart and in my prayers in the coming days. Nothing ever prepares us for so great a loss. God placed such a perfect gift in your life because he only intended you to have the best. What precious memories you will carry into the future with you.
Thank you sweet Barbara! Love you!
Beautifully written, Beth, and so true. She was a special gem. She and my mother were such good friends when Luanne and I were babies. They would put us in strollers and Mom would start walking from our house, BL would start walking from her house and they would meet in the middle. I told Luanne earlier this week that I loved sitting next to her in choir. I’ll never forget the day she pulled up her skirt a little bit to reveal a run in her hose at least 3 inches wide. Then she leaned over and whispered to me “Got any nail polish?” Haha. I truly loved that woman!
Ha ha! I can totally see Betty Lou doing that! We love you all. Thanks Jennifer!