Betty Jo "BJ" Todd

Service: 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, at Bergman Church of Christ, with burial at Maple Leaf Cemetery; Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Monday, July 9, at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home.

Betty Jo (BJ) Todd, age 84, of Bergman, passed away on Thursday, July 5 (2018) at the Hospice House in Harrison.

BJ was an only child born to Edith Olive Harmon and stepfather Harry Snell in Turley, Oklahoma. Her childhood was not always easy as she lost her mother at age five and her stepfather worked away. She spent her younger years being taken care of by various family members and friends and eventually ended up at age 12 in a children's home in Tipton, Oklahoma. The Tipton Children's Home sent her to Harding University on scholarship after high school graduation in 1951. There she met and married Stephen Todd in 1954. BJ always said her life truly became wonderful when she married Steve.

Betty Jo worked mostly as a homemaker, but did work outside the home early in her marriage, and after, she devoted years to loving and raising their four children. She was extremely gifted as an artist and crafter. She was an amazing seamstress as she made beautiful clothes for her children, most often without patterns. BJ had a grand personality, full of life and loved others. She was full of humor and those that knew her loved her.

BJ was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Stephen Todd; her four children, Mark (Patti) Todd of Shreveport, Louisiana, Michael Todd of Peel, Jolene (Stan) Nutt of Sugar Hill, Georgia, and Sandra (Harold) Johnson of Harrison; nine grandchildren including Todd (Katie) Johnson, Trent (Kate) Johnson, Charlene (Pearson) Maugeri, Tyler (Mary) Nutt, Tiffany Pace, Courtney Todd, Jessica Todd, Jennifer Todd and Richie Todd; and great-granddaughter, Everly Johnson.

BJ was a faithful member of the Lords church all of her days and was a member of the Bergman Church of Christ. She served as a Bible class teacher and was known for her hospitality. She loved church potlucks. She was blessed to have so many family and friends that supported her not only in her years of great health, but in the last years as she struggled.

Special thanks to Dr. Tom and Cindy Langston and the staff at Hospice of the Hills in Harrison.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 9, at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, at the Bergman Church of Christ. Burial will follow at Maple Leaf Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Rick Moore, Dennis Hunt, Jim Dixon, Dale Hardman, Royce Jones and Dennis Sein.

Memorial donations may be made to Paragould Children's Home at Children's Homes, Inc., 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, AR 72450.