Elizabeth Louise "Bette" Freeman

Bette Freeman passed away on February 13, 2026 after a long, fabulous life of love, adventure, good food, and of course family. Bette lived her life with a spirit of joy and a determination to make everything work, despite any challenges. She inspired her children and grandchildren to live meaningful lives by setting an example with her intense commitment to the people she loved. She was fierce in the face of adversity right up until the very end. Many people at Atlantic Shores, where she lived her final years, frequently commented that she was a "ray of sunshine" everywhere she went. She could truly turn the world on with her beautiful smile. Bette was deeply loved and cherished by her family and friends and will be missed beyond measure.

Bette was born in Chesapeake City, Maryland on March 9, 1933 and later moved to Aberdeen, MD, where her parents worked at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds during the war years. She was a loving daughter to her parents, Ella and Roland Bristow. She had a beautiful singing voice, and as a teenager, she won an amateur talent competition at the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." She also played softball and basketball at Aberdeen High School, where her nickname was "Bris", the same as her father's.

While a young woman, Bette started dating a young man named Jack Freeman, and the rest is history. Bette and Jack eloped to North Carolina where they married and then returned to Aberdeen where they worked in a variety of jobs until Jack joined the U.S. Air Force. As a very young couple living with their two young children, Jack Jr. and Joyce, in Mountain Home, Idaho, far from any family, they suffered the tragic loss of their infant daughter. After stints in Mississippi, Idaho, and California, they were then stationed in Japan where they lived for a year or so. Once back in the States, Bette and Jack lived in New York City and Boston before finally settling in the Virginia Beach area where they lived for the rest of their lives.

Bette was an incredible mother and wife. Because Jack travelled for his work for long periods of time, Bette managed the household on her own with hard work, attention to detail, and a fierce commitment to her children. While frugality was a guiding principle, abundance was always the outcome. Food was always central to the home, with good food cooked from scratch on a nightly basis and fresh brownies or cookies frequently awaiting the kids when they came home from school. Crab picking in the backyard was an important tradition, and we would spend hours eating crabs, drinking beer, and then cooling off in their backyard pool. Summer family gatherings around the pool were frequent and always featured great food and family fun.

As her children started their own families, her love encompassed our chosen partners as an extension of her love for her own children. For her daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters, Bette showed us, as girls, how to be strong, compassionate, and to stand up for ourselves and our own families in a world where that is not always easy.

Almost equal to her commitment to her family was Bette's commitment to her friends. She had an incredible ability to make and foster friendships with a wide range of people. She brought joy and comfort to those within her circle, supported friends through hardships, and demonstrated how to build community. One of the last things she said before she passed was "Say goodbye to my friends."

Beyond giving to family and friends, Bette found time to volunteer with the Helping Hands organization from its inception and assisted special children in the Infant Stimulation program in Virginia Beach. She was also a regular volunteer with organizations that assisted with food distribution to those in need.

As Bette's children grew up, she became an avid tennis player in Virginia Beach tennis leagues and formed lifetime friendships with her tennis pals. After Jack retired, they spent about 10 years traveling across the country in their RV, sometimes snowbirding in Florida and often traveling to National Parks as far away as Alaska.

Bette was a well-loved person among all who knew her. She was known for her radiant smile that lit up any room, her sparkling personality, her zest for life, and her intense commitment to family and friends. After her husband Jack died in 2019, she moved to Atlantic Shores Independent Living with her beloved dog Buffy where she continued to light up the room with her smile and big personality.

Bette was predeceased by a daughter, Joyce Freeman; her parents Roland and Ella Bristow; and her husband Jack Lawson Freeman. She is survived by two daughters, Robin Freeman Miner (Ed) and Beth Freeman (Kathryn Friedman); two sons, Jack Freeman Jr. and Chris Freeman (Stefanie); her beloved niece Holly Pritchett (Bill) and their three children; seven grandchildren, Miles Miner (Katya), Joel Miner (Kati), Kristen Freeman Johnson (Doug), Lindsey Buchanan (Will), Julia Friedman Kimball (Leigh), Erik Friedman Kimball (Krista), and Danya Friedman Kinsman (Eamon); and eight great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank all the wonderful caregivers at Atlantic Shores and Suncrest Hospice Care for the compassion and kindness offered to our Mom and to us during this difficult transition. Our family will be forever grateful for the care she was provided during those last months.

A Celebration of Life followed by reception will be held in the Anchor Room at Atlantic Shores on March 14, 2026 at 2 pm. We request casual attire as we celebrate the life of this amazing woman. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.altmeyerfh.com.