Betty Stokes (94) born in Plant City, Florida and a resident of Franklin, Tennessee, grew weary of traveling from one place to another following her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She now resides with the Lord, as of August 3, 2018, and is renewing old relationships with those she out-lived and is spending the best time with her brother Charlie and his wife Marjorie, and grandchildren Whitney and Kyle that arrived back in 1987. Her parents – Charles Henry Robinson and Myrtle Hayman Robinson, welcomed her into heaven with smiles, arms wide open and took great pleasure in showing her around. We can only imagine the fun and laughter she is sharing!
Along life’s journey Betty served her country as a clerk/typist for the Secretary of the Navy in the 1950’s. After that she moved to St. Petersburg, FL with her husband, Bill Pfeiffer and her passion for children literally came to life as they adopted their two daughters, Ruthanne and April. Her family moved to Virginia for a few years and then to Warner Robins, GA. Unfortunately, Bill had a sudden heart attack in 1973 and so Betty was alone with two girls to care for. As they grew up, Betty couldn’t get enough of hanging with children (of course extra money helped too) so she opened a day care in her home. She was so loved by those children that some cried when their parents came to pick them up. She did this 5 days a week. On Sundays, in her own words, she “served Jesus” by volunteering in the nursery at Central Baptist Church in Warner Robins. That’s the way she grew up—serving the Lord, loving her family and taking care of children.
She married H.L. Stokes in 1990. She and H.L. (mainly she) decided to sell their house in Warner Robins and they moved to Brentwood, TN in 1999. That had nothing to do with careers, but everything to do with grandchildren. She came to be closer to her immediate family and H.L., like so many husbands, did as he was told and came too! H.L. took up a residency in heaven in 2002, so Betty became even more involved with church work at Brentwood Baptist where she attended regularly and helped with mailing bulletins and other secretarial work for her Sunday school class and the Good News Choir. She also was a regular Pink Lady volunteer in Georgia and at Williamson Medical Center in Franklin. She delivered meals for Meals on Wheels, which she enjoyed very much. Betty had a great sense of humor and a love of laughing. That is what she wanted to be remembered by.
As time passed, Betty’s health was ravaged by dementia. The one thing that dementia never took from her was her smile, her laugh and positive outlook. She was blessed to receive some of the most heartfelt care from the loving staff at NHC in Aspen Arbor and The Courtyard.
Still on this earth are her brother, Fred Robinson of St. Petersburg, Florida; her daughter, Ruthanne Harmon and her husband Randy Harmon of Brentwood, TN and daughter April Freund and her husband Chris Freund of St. Louis, MO. There are nieces and nephews close to her heart too – Pam and Joe Farless of Chattanooga, TN and their daughters Ashley and Laura, along with Diane and Kenny Pyles of Atlanta, GA and their sons Stephen and Matthew. Betty deeply loved her grandchildren —Whitey and Kyle (who are with her in heaven) and Chip, Holly, Macy and Gracie, along with her great-grandchildren – Jesse, Levi, and Dawson. We celebrate her life and love of God, country, and family.
Mrs. Gayle Haywood will conduct a service to celebrate Betty’s life at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 18, 2018 at Brentwood Baptist Church. There will be a time of visitation from 10:00 a.m. until time of the service at the church.
If you choose, in lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to: The Texas Children’s Hospital, Critical, Surgical and Emergency Care Services or mail to: Texas Children’s Hospital, Office of Philanthropy, Suite 5214, P.O. Box 300630, Houston, TX 77230-0630 – Critical, Surgical and Emergency Care Services, in memory of Betty Stokes. You may also give to Brentwood Baptist Church, Children’s Ministry, 7777 Concord Road, Brentwood, TN 37027. In notes: Children’s Ministry in memory of Betty Stokes.
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