Betty Sue Harris James

Betty Sue Harris James

Betty Sue Harris James was born on Saturday, August 2, 1930; at the family home on 16 Center Street in the little cotton mill village of Cooleemee, North Carolina, located on the Yadkin River in Davie County. She was the 9th child and baby girl born to her parents Nathan Curtis and Susie Kerley Harris in a family of 7 brothers and 3 sisters. It was a typical simple way of life growing up in the 1930’s era. Her papa worked in the mill to provide for his family. He enjoyed wood working and gardening. Her Momma took care of the home and her children. She loved to cook, was active in church and taught Sunday School. My Momma told me the story of an old time tent revival she attended with her Momma early in her teens. She said she accepted Jesus and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Her teen years in the 1940’s were carefree and spent with lots of friends, double dates, and fun. She was very petite, standing only 5 feet and 1 inch tall with a figure that would stop a guy in his tracks. She caught the eye of our Daddy Robert Lee James. They met, fell in love and were married shortly after on February 12, 1950. They remained married until Daddy passed away May 27, 1995.

The mother of 5 children; Doris James Dixon, Vickie James Fodrie, Robin James Turnage, Walter Joseph James (deceased December 21, 2011) and Robert Lee James, Jr. Grandmother (Meme) to 5 grandchildren; Chastity Brown, Robert Godwin, David Parker, Michelle Brown, Baron Fodrie, Robert James and Brent Fodrie. Great-grandmother of 7; Emilee Brown, Hayleigh Brown, McKinsey Parker, Taleia Godwin, Nicolas Godwin, Robbie James, Jackson James and step Meme to Luke and Bella.

God saw that you were suffering

When a cure was not to be

He wrapped His arms around you

And whispered “Come to me”

You didn’t deserve what you went through

God gave you rest

God’s garden must be beautiful

He wants you to be blessed

When we saw you sleeping

So peaceful and free from pain

We could not wish you back to suffer that again

Momma , in whatever situation or circumstance, always took care and pride in her appearance. I remember that she put her make up on and fixed her hair every day. She loved her high heels and had a unique sense of style about her. In blue jeans or a dress she knew how to put herself together and dress to impress.

For most of her life she was a stay at home Mom. She always maintained a clean and neat house and always made sure that her children were clean and well fed. Momma was a very good cook, making homemade buttermilk biscuits almost every day. It didn’t matter if it was pinto beans and potatoes, creamed gravy country ham or her spaghetti and meatballs, it was special because she made it.

Momma loved music and she was a great dancer. After our daddy passed away, we encouraged her to join the singles club and make some friends. After some time, she finally did and we were happy to see her have a social life, getting dressed up and just be free to enjoy her life.

Sadly she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease on January 18, 2010. Momma was small but she never backed down. She was a fighter and did not accept that she had Parkinson’s. She managed very well for a while insisting on wearing her heels and trying to maintain, but little by little she started losing control. My sister, Robin, moved in with her and they managed very well, until she started falling and after several falls she had a very severe one that landed her in the hospital for surgery, rehabilitation, and managed care. This has been a very long and difficult journey to navigate through not only for our Momma, but for all those who love her, with countless complexities to battle and obstacles to be faced every step of the way. It was a journey that drained and depleted all who traveled with her.

Staring into the eyes of anxiety, fear, tormented pain, the fading eyes of death, despair and lost hope, desperately holding on to a life that no longer existed. Begging us to take her home and asking us for something we were not able to provide. We always felt helpless to bring any comfort or relief from her constant suffering. Sometimes it is impossible to face the reality of what is, no peace of mind, no relief from the tormented cries of “help me, help me, I’ve got to go, I can’t breathe, don’t leave me here, I want to go home.” So we have cried countless tears falling like rain drops of emotion. It’s so hard to accept when you feel that you have done the very best that you can that it somehow just wasn’t enough. We all need to realize that it’s not the years, months, weeks, days, hours or even the minutes. It’s the moments, precious memories captured in the heart to hold there for a lifetime, pictures frozen in time, and voices calling across the years reminding us how quickly time passes on. Although life will go on, we will be walking down a broken road and it will never be the same.

We sat beside your bedside,

Our hearts were crushed and sore;

We did our best to the end

Till we could do no more.

In tears we watched you sinking,

We watched you fade away;

And though our hears were breaking,

We know you could not stay.

You left behind aching hearts,

That loved you most sincere;

We will never forget you Momma

We always loved you

We always will…

Funeral service will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 29 at Cotten Funeral Home. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.