Betty Jo Thompson

The wonderful gift of life was given to Betty Jo Thompson on the 22nd of October 1944 in Rocky Gap Virginia to Lorenza C. Robinson (father) and Betty J. Robinson (mother), who preceded her in death. She passed in peace, Thursday, August 30, 2018 at the age of 73 in Columbus, Ohio.

Betty grew up in Rocky Gap, Virginia. and graduated from Tazewell High School in  Virginia in 1963, After graduation she moved to New York,then to Cleveland, Ohio where she raised her two children. Later she eventually moved and settled down in Columbus Ohio.

Throughout her younger years she enjoyed finding rocks, thumb tacks or anything with her sister Mary, that they could wrap up and exchange as Christmas gifts with each other. This became a tradition that continued throughout their lives, sending various items to each other over the years. She understood that no act of kindness, however small, was ever wasted. Her and Mary were always up to something and would toss their Sunday school money into the creek pretending it was a wishing well on their way to Sunday school. She also enjoyed spending her high school summer with her sister Patricia.

She was a loving and straight-shooting person who opened her heart to all. She never had a filter and was always known for giving you her best life and her opinion regardless of whether you wanted to hear it, or not. Her presence became infectious and spread far and wide impacting all the lives she encountered. Betty unintentionally, or intentionally, knew that you did not have to be tied by blood line for her to consider you family. Whether it was her video phone calls with her sister Mary that began and ended with butterfly kisses while going back and forth saying “love you more”, or spending her days hanging out with her sister Patricia watching Judge Mathis and/or Jerry Springer, too the regular visits from her brother Richard talking smack with each other, her days were filled with laughter, smiles and endless love.

She enjoyed her trips to the casino seated up at the penny slot machines, her entertaining trips to the thrift stores with her daughter every Saturday, and her many dinners cooked to perfection by her son Bobby. She always tried to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren attending sporting events, senior nights, graduations (preschool, elementary, high school and college). And even occasional disciplinary visits when needed. No matter the event or occasion, she always made it a priority to try and be there.

The lessons and teachings of “Betty, Jo, aunt Jo, grandma, grandma Jo”, or whatever you know her as, of course didn’t end with just her immediate family. She never hesitated to tell the boys to pull their pants up and made sure all the girls were in pretty dresses and ruffled white socks. She taught the kids how to address adults as “yes mam” and “no mam” and was quick to correct you when you didn’t. Her no nonsense-tell-it-like-it-is personality helped raise and build so many strong beautiful people throughout her years. And you didn’t have to live in her household, nor her city, to get the effect. She became the highlight of visits from family and friends all over the states and never hesitated to call you and tell you about yourself and/or to tell you how proud she was of you.

Her acts of kindness, selflessness, and strength lived through her and became a rippling effect passed down to her daughter Tina. Betty would want Tina to know her role in her life will forever be cherished and will never be limited to being just her caretaker. She would want her to move forward knowing they developed, not just a lifelong mother-daughter relationship, but a friendship linked together that could never be undone, even when unspoken.

Through it all, she loved her family and friends leaving a legacy to cherish her memories and love; her sisters Patricia Johnson, Mary Jones (Butch), and brother Richard Robinson (Deanna);her two children Tina M. Williams (Renne) and Bobby L. Thompson Jr. (Jennifer);her grandchildren Terrelle Williams (Allison), Tianna Williams (granddog Chloee), Justin Thompson, Sabrina Thompson, David Thompson, her beloved dog Varmet-Boo; her great grandchildren Teagan, Taelyn, Tyson Williams, a host of nephews and nieces; close family friends Julie Johnson, Debbie Wilkinson, Keyes, and Vicky Mansfield (Mike).

Despite these difficult times know that it will be difficult to let go of someone who gave you so much to remember her by and no matter what, those memories will forever remain. Please hang on to those as we know that she did. In her words “BE STRONG.” Let her presence, her undeniable love and candor, fill your mind with laughter, warm your heart with happiness, and lead you through this. The family thanks each and every one of you for your prayers, love and support.

Visitation 3:00pm and Funeral 4:00pm Saturday, September 8, 2018 at Marlan J. Gary Funeral Home, The Chapel of Peace East, 5456 E. Livingston Ave