Betty would go on to create her own family having ten children born out of her two marriages to the late Thomas L. Walters and the late William E. Frisby Sr. and raising her family in Bay Shore, NY. In addition to her own children, Betty was a foster mother and helped to raise many of her nieces and nephews. A true symbol of what a Mother is supposed to embody Betty’s love was far reaching.
When I think about my Aunt Betty, I think of admiration. I’ve always been insecure in crowds and nervous when it came to greeting others but whenever I saw her it seemed to wash away. She had an inviting hug and a loving look that always made me feel calm. Whenever my Nana or my aunt and uncles spoke about her it was filled with joy. To this day, when they tell stories about their youth she’s painted as a sympathetic figure who they always felt comfortable around.
My Aunt Betty passed away on September 29th, 2017. Today I honor her for Black History Month not only because she is an integral member of my family but because her place in the lives of not only her children but the the children she helped mother should never be forgotten. Rest In Peace Aunt Betty.