Betty Jean Lyda Roberts

I was the Oldest Grandchild of Betty and Jimmy, as well as; the youngest daughter raised by the couple. My fondest and probably some of my youngest memories of my Nanny were helping her with her gardening projects in the yard. Nanny loved roses, they were most definitely her favorite flower. I was maybe 4 or 5 years old and I remember watching her dig a hole in specific areas around the yard, not all in one day, it varied each spring/summer,however; each rose bush she brought home and dug the hole, she would then help me get the rose bush out of the lil pot and she would tell me to put it in the hole she had dug, then she told me to use my hands and scoop that fresh dug soil onto the roots; covering it up a lil ways up the bottom of the stalk. I always patted the dirt around that pretty lil rose bush, so proud because I was helping my Nanny make her yard beautiful. I asked her why she didn’t plant the bush, why did she always ask me to put it in the hole and cover it with my hands, she told me that roses were really peticular about who planted them, that only certain people were special enough to plant roses and the roses would grow up to be very beautiful…then, she would smile so proud of me and say, Wendy you must be one of those special people because every rose bush I helped her plant, no matter what side of the yard; would grow to be big and beautiful…almost as beautiful as me. Nanny’s most favorite rose bush she would always tell me was yellow roses, but she just never could keep them alive. About 6, maybe 7 Mother’s day ago I went and picked out one of the prettiest and healthiest looking yellow rose bushes I could find and took it to the house she had been living in since her mother died and I brought my shovel and a few ties and planted the beautiful bush right up in the frontyard beside the gate door. That bush was huge come the following spring and summer and thrived until she sold the house. She was so proud of that bush, I’m not sure if it was because the bush was so pretty or because I planted it for her like when I was little and that bush was stunning. I miss my Nanny so much already, I am so lucky and Blessed to have a woman like her to raise me. I love you and will forever thank God for you and Pappa! Give Pappa a big hug for me at that pearly gate and tell him I love and miss him too!