Betty Lou Jarvis

My Mom Betty Lou Jarvis was always so full of Love, Life & Laughter. She started her young life in the Oxford Orphanage in Oxford North Carolina and often shared with me her wonderful memories of growing up there in the mid to late 1940s and into the 1950s. It's here where mom learned a lot of her most valuable life lessons. She learned how to be scrappy and defend herself, how to be independent, acquired a great work ethic and yet learned how to appreciation all the simple things of life. While growing up in the Orphanage she found her love for drawing and painting. Over the years she became a phenomenal self taught artist. She also discovered the book "Gone with the Wind" and the love story it portrayed. Due to her love for the book, she ended up becoming an avid collector over the next 6 decades. Mom's second love was Elvis Presley. She was a teenager when Elvis hit the big screen in "Love Me Tender" Since most of the orphans didn't have money, mom would joke that her and her friends would walk to the movie theater in town and when the movie was over, they would walk in backwards as the crowd was coming out the doors, just so they could sneak in to see their heart throb on the big screen. Her love for Elvis continued throughout her lifetime.  Mom's values, love of God, love for her Country and love for her family & friends, she carried with her into adulthood from those early years of growing up in the orphanage. Mom always treated everyone with Love, Laughter and Generosity but at the same time, she never let people mistake her kindness for weakness or take advantage of her. I can say she learned this while growing up in the orphanage. She instilled in me the same values and principles. Mom eventually made her way to Norfolk Virginia in early 1960s where she gained experience in the many facets of the work force. Being young she changed jobs often, trying to find the one job that she could handle working 40 hours a week. She started as a dental assistant making $25.00 a week. After the dental assistant job, she tried her hand as a curb girl at Wimpy's restaurant, an investigator and an artist at an art studio but none of these suited her fancy. Eventually mom became a Security Guard at Norshipco where she worked many years until she was laid off. By this time mom married the love of her life, my step father, John Jarvis (Red). Since she was laid off from the shipyard she went to work at Red's restaurant that he and a partner owned together. Mom finally retired and her and Red started traveling the world. They were able go and see places that mom only dreamed of going to when she was that young girl in the orphanage. By the end of Mom's life, she had lost her beloved parents, husband and sister Dorothy, many years ago. Over the years mom also lost many wonderful and dear friends whom she considered our extended family. My God-Mother Frankie, Jeannie, Margaret, Elaine & Sue. Although mom lost so many before her, God blessed her with old and plenty of new friends that she called "Family". Mark & Adrienne have been long time family friends for over 50 years, Ronnie, who was like a son to her and her wonderful neighbors, Marion and John, who always looked out for mom. Mom loved going to Mt. Airy, NC (aka Mayberry) for Mayberry Days. It is there that she met so many wonderful people that she became close friends with over the years and loved dearly. Jim & Shirley, although close friends from mom's hometown of Norfolk, VA., we always celebrated Mayberry Days together them. Marge (mom's best friend), Carroll & Donnie from the Gold Leaf shop, Dennis, who we met when he ran the Frame Shop on Main Street & his sweet wife Deborah, Amy & Pat our laughing buddies from Mayberry Embroidery Bruce and Marie our wonderful neighbors and our beloved neighbor Ms. Ester. My Mom wasn't just my mom, she was my Best Friend, Greatest Supporter and life Compass. I am so going to miss her laughter, her thoughtfulness, kindness, her beautiful paintings, wonderful sweets and the many hours that we spent talking on the phone like we hadn't talked in years. Losing her has left such a hugh hole in my heart but I know that she is no longer suffering and is with our Lord and all of her loved ones that passed before her. I love & miss you mom and I can't wait to be reunited with you and dad again, when the Lord calls me home to stay.