Bethanne Calvert

Bethanne G. Calvert FRANKLIN - On Feb. 11, 2010 at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Bethanne Naomi Greger Calvert went home to her Lord and Savior. She passed on due to complications associated with her long battle with Leukemia. Bethanne was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend to everyone she met. She is survived by her parents, retired Navy Chief Petty Officer James and Suzette Greger and brother Joseph of Franklin; and her sister, Katherine Berry and husband Sean of Jacksonville, N.C. She is also survived by her loving and caring husband of eight years, Joshua Calvert; their beautiful 7-year-old daughter, Allison Grace Calvert; and her custom blue 2007 convertible ragtop "Jack Roush" Mustang. Bethanne was born in Drexel Hill, Pa., Sept. 3, 1982 and spent her early childhood in Memphis, Tenn., before moving to Suffolk where she grew up. Graduating in 2000 from Lakeland High School, she entered the United States Navy as a hospital corpsman in 2001 where she dedicated five years of service to her country both at home and abroad. This included a deployment to Kuwait before being medically retired with an honorable discharge upon being diagnosed with leukemia. She was a member of Holland Baptist Church where she worshipped and volunteered her time with the Vacation Bible School. Bethanne's beautiful spirit was joyfully expressed through her paintings, photography, arts and crafts and her wonderfully infectious smile. She was very artistic, loving, outgoing and fun to be around. Her smile and laughter always lit up the room. Along with her love for her family and crafts, her passion for life was reflected in her love for her favorite movie "The Wizard of Oz" and her longstanding love affair with her Mustang sports car. The family would like to thank the staff at Naval Hospital Portsmouth, particularly the Hematology and Oncology clinics, the Emergency Room, Intensive Care Unit and the 4J Ward where Bethanne spent so much of her time in her struggle. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Capt. Mike Hopkins, Cmdr. Charles Reninger and the staff at the University of North Carolina Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. Visitation will be held Sunday, Feb. 14, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Wright Funeral Home, Franklin. A memorial service will be held Monday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m. in Holland Baptist Church, 6519 Holland Road, Suffolk, with Pastor Robert Bunn and the Rev. Dr. Ed Sunday-Winters officiating. A life celebration will follow in the Church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Bethanne's name to the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society or to the Holland Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 786, Suffolk, VA 23437. www.wrightfuneralhome.org.