Newspaper, Profile of Bettye Finlay Lawrence, LaSalle Parish La.
Submitted by: Pat Ezell, PatEzell@worldnet.att.net




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From the Jena Times - Olla Tullos Signal, Wed., February 2, 2000, Section B,
Page 1 
Thank You to the Times -Signal for allowing the following to be added to the
Archives. 
A Times-Signal Feature...."Citizen Profile" A Very Special Salute
JENA WOMAN ENDURES HARD TRIALS, BUT THANKFUL FOR LIFE
She may be best known for her delicious homemade candy, but those who know her
personally will tell you that her sweet candy doesn't even compare to the
Godly influence she has had on so many people.
Even though she has had to endure many hard trials in her life, you would
never know it. Besides having a wonderful sense of humor and being a joy to
visit with, Mrs. Bettye Finlay Lawrence of Jena is a living testimony of the
faithfulness of Jesus Christ in every situation of life.
"When people find out my entire immediate family has passed away, they just
naturally feel sorry for me," Mrs. Bettye said. "But I'm not looking for
sympathy. I have an assurance from God that my family is in heaven and one day
I will be with them again."
In fact, the hard times of losing all of her family has helped to mold her
into the unselfish person she is today, caring more for others than herself
and always going the extra mile to meet the needs of others. Many times it is
only her and God that knows what she is doing to help others.
Mrs. Bettye was born on April 28, 1935, at Old River. Her parents were Hance
D. Finlay and Fannie Pritchard Finlay and she had five sisters and two
brothers.
Because her father worked as a locomotive engineer for Kansas City Southern-
Illinois Division, the family moved quite a bit throughout her life, but Jena
was always considered "Home base" because of the extended family in this area.
She started school at the Old River School and remembers Jess Moffett as her
first teacher. When she was six, they moved to Jena and she attended Jena
Elementary School until the third grade. During the third grade, they moved to
Winnfield and she attended Winnfield Elementary School. 
In 1945, the Finlay's moved back to Jena. Before she started her seventh grade
year at Jena Elementary, a new school building was constructed. It is the same
building that is presently being used today. Later, when she attended Jena
High School, a new building was constructed there as well and she was at the
new school building the first year it opened. This same building is still
being used today as well.
"I'm one of the few that can say they went to school the first year the new
building was built at Jena Elementary School and Jena High School as well,"
she said. "They were impressive buildings back then and everyone was proud of
them."
In 1950, the family moved back to Winnfield and it was there that Mrs. Bette
graduated from high school in 1953.
After graduations, Mrs. Bettye stayed home and helped her mother around the
house.
One of her best friends from Winnfield began working for Beaird Industries in
Shreveport, and one day her best friend brought home a co-worker for Mrs.
Bettye to meet.
His name was Julian L. Lawrence. Originally from Meridian, Mississippi, Mr.
Lawrence was the Director of Personnel for the Shreveport plant and the two
hit it off from the start and began dating.
They eventually would marry in 1956 and move to Shreveport but not before a
year of dating has passed.
"I had an unwritten rule that I wouldn't marry until I knew someone for at
least a year," she said. "Back then it was forever and ever, amen, so I wanted
to make sure. And after that time, I knew he was the man for me."
Two years later in 1958, their first child entered the Lawrence household.
Julian L. Lawrence, Jr. was the oldest child and nine years later their second
child, Jason Lawrence, was born.
But when Jason was just twelve years old, tragedy struck the Lawrence home. In
1980, Jason died from an accidental death. Then in 1994, her oldest son also
died and the following year, her husband of 39 years died also.
According to Mrs. Bettye, though, God never makes mistakes and though the pain
was great in each of the deaths, God had a plan which continues to be carried
out even today.
"In each death I can look back now and see the hand of God at work," she said.
"God never makes mistakes and He gave me cherished times with each of them
before He called them home."
The night before Jason accidentally died, Mrs. Bettye recalls a wonderful
family night and a memory which would help sustain her through the terrible
ordeal.
"That last night together, we'd watched a funny show on television and we all
laughed together and had a great time," she said. "But more special to me than
that was when I went in to Jason's room just before he went to sleep. I told
him how much fun I'd had that night but there was one thing I'd wanted to
know. I wanted him to tell me about his salvation once again (I always asked
and wanted to make sure) and he told me that he knew he was saved and would be
in heaven when he died. God gave me that moment and that assurance continued
to help me even today."
When her oldest son, Julian, was diagnosed with a deadly disease, Mrs. Bettye
seized the opportunity to be with her son for nearly every moment up until his
death.
"I was able to care for him and be with him until the very end and God allowed
us to share some moments together that we wouldn't have ever gotten to
otherwise," she said. "Of course, during that time together, Julian re-
affirmed his faith in Jesus Christ and just as God allowed me to have that
assurance with Jason, He allowed me to have it with Julian as well. Those last
two years that we spent together were the closest we'd ever been and will
always be remembered."
Soon after Julian's death, Mr. Lawrence decided that he and Mrs. Bettye should
move back "home". So in August of 1994, Mr. Lawrence retired and they moved
back to Jena.
In January of the following year, they learned that Mr. Lawrence was sick and
shortly thereafter he passed away.
"I realize that even though that was bad, God had done a work and brought us
back home so I could be around all my family," Mrs. Bettye said. "I have a
real big extended family here with the Pritchard's and Francis', and God knew
that I would need all that love and support.
If there was ever a person who had the opportunity to feel sorry for herself
and give up on life, it was Mrs. Bettye. But that thought never crossed her
mind and the main reason, she says, is her faith in God and her strong belief
that god is in control, never makes mistakes, and will never put more on a
person than they are able to handle."
"I knew they were all saved and so I know where they are," she said. "Because
I knew they knew they were saved, after their deaths, I drew on that. The
Bible says to 'let not your heart be troubled', and I've leaned on John 14:1-6
many times for assurance."
"I really am not looking for sympathy because I've seen the hand of God work
in my life so many times," Mrs. Bettye said. "Although the grief was real and
strong, going through all that I did really alerted me to be sensitive to
other people's grief."
In 1975, when her home had become an "empty nest", Mrs. Bettye earned a B.A.
in Early Elementary Education and in 1991 she received a Master's Degree in
Science. While she never actually taught school, she did have the opportunity
of teaching her boys all about the Bible.
"God has used all of it to make a story," she said. "I'm thankful I knew God
during all of that, otherwise, I know things would have been much different.
"I've got a home in heaven and no matter what I fix here on this earth, it
will never be complete until I'm with my family in heaven," she continued.
"I'm just waiting on my reunion in heaven, since I've got the assurance that
I'm prepared. But don't get me wrong, I'm going to enjoy life here as long as
God will allow me to, but when it is time, I know that will be a glad reunion
day."
And keeping herself busy is one way that she enjoys life. Mrs. Bettye has many
jobs, including teaching at Temple Christian Academy, her bookkeeping service,
making candy, and working in her church.
Because of her health and not being able to stay on her feet for long periods
of time, she is a little more restricted in her usual blistering pace, in
which people half her age couldn't perform. But she still manages to do a lot
of work.
"I've taught the last four months at Temple Christian Academy," she said.
"That was one of the most rewarding things I've done in a long time. While my
health right now won't let me stand all day, I do plan on continuing working
at the school on a voluntary basis. I told Bro. Jimmy (Keene-Pastor, Temple
Baptist church) to not close that door."
While she has a teaching degree, she never did teach because of her
bookkeeping office. She explained that when she had her family, it was easier
to do the bookkeeping rather than teach, because keeping books allowed her to
stay at home with her children.
"But I really do love children," she said, "and working at Temple enables me
to be with wonderful children and help them learn in the process."
She still operates her bookkeeping service, and during the tax months, she
keeps pretty busy with her "regular" clients.
Mrs. Bettye is also a faithful member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, a
church where a large majority of her family attend.
"I've been blessed," she said, "when I came down here I found some of the best
people in the world and one of the greatest churches I've ever been associated
with. Bro. Rickey Gresham is a wonderful pastor and a fine preacher."
But perhaps what Mrs. Bettye is known best for around this area is her
homemade candy, or Aunt Bettye's Homemade Candy, as so many people know it.
I've always made candy for friends, but it wasn't until a couple of years ago
that Linda Decker pushed me to start selling it," she said. "She started
taking orders at the bank and people started ordering. It originally started
as a fund-raiser for a young man."
Mrs. Bettye said that her sister, Jack Francis, said their family would buy
the supplies if she'd make the candy, which would raise money to benefit the
young man.
I still remember my nephew Patrick Francis bring me $50 and saying make it
grow Aunt Bettye," she said. "Well, I didn't do it, but God sure has made it
grow over the past couple of years.
Mrs. Bettye's most recent fundraising project was for the Temple Christian
Academy, where the school raised over $5,000.
"In fund-raisers, people will donate money for supplies and I, and sometimes
some volunteers, will make the candy," she said.
"Doing these fund-raisers have been the greatest blessings I've ever done, and
do you know something, I've never sold a box."
"This is just something that God has let me do to be a part of helping someone
else,:" she continued. "I'm thankful for it and love it. It definitely keeps
me busy."
Mrs. Bettye said that she really doesn't think of it as a fund raiser, but
more as helping someone in need.
"In all of it, it is really God," she said, "I don't want to take any credit
for it. I love working for the Lord and doing things for other people. I can't
imagine anyone not wanting to help someone else."
When she's not busy making candy, volunteering at the school, or working at
her church, Mrs. Bettye spends her time studying God's Word.
"God has blessed me with a pretty extensive library with many commentaries,"
she said. "I really enjoy just sitting and studying the Bible."
In fact, Mrs. Bettye says that, every person should spend time in prayer and
Bible study, and teach their children and other young people the commandments
issued in God's Word.
"My daddy was a strong Bible teacher," she said. "He was smarter than what we
thought at the time. But I remember him talking to me all the time and he
spent a lot of time teaching us the Bible. Fortunately, I retained much of
that which he taught."
Mrs. Bettye believes that parents should spend more time with their children,
not only teaching them the Bible, but also getting to know them and listening
to them. "Parents should talk to their kids man to man, one on one," she said.
"That's one good thing about my life, I did talk to my kids all the time and I
had that assurance."
"God created the home first, even though so much is going on today you must
spend time with your family," she continued. "You must teach them every step,
everyday, everything including morals and principles. If we don't get our
generations coming up grounded in the Word, then they will fail."
She also said that it isn't necessarily what she believes that is important,
but rather what the Bible says.
"That is what our nation was founded upon and that is the only thing that will
ensure our survival," she said. "My prayer everyday is for God to let me see
the needs of people around me."
Mrs. Bettye said that she hopes she is remembered not for her homemade candy,
but rather that she loved all people and cared enough about them to actually
help them in a time of need.
"So many times we get tied up with our little immediate family," she said.
"But since my family has gone God has opened my eyes to everyone else and I
try to focus everyday on what I can do to help someone else."
"I try to mention Jesus or what God has done for me every time someone comes
to my house or office," Mrs. Bettye said. "Really, the only thing I know to
talk about is Jesus, that's the only language I know."
She continued by noting that someone who doesn't have Jesus really can't
comprehend what she is talking about, but noted that once a person experiences
salvation through Jesus Christ, than they begin to understand her message.
"Our joy, the only joy that I know, is in my salvation in Jesus Christ," she
said. "All of my security is wrapped up in Him. If you want to know real joy,
joy unspeakable, then you need Jesus. Anything that I've got that would be
worth telling would come from Him."
This week, we salute Mrs. Bettye Lawrence, who reminds us of the never ending
faithfulness of God through every situation, and that putting others first
always reaps heaping benefits of happiness.
Thank you Mrs. Bettye for your devotion to Christ and for being a mode for so
many people in LaSalle Parish. Your delicious candy does not compare to the
sweet taste of your life and impact you have had on so many.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: Bettye Finlay's ancestors include the following:
Parents: Hansford Duncan Finlay and Fannie Pritchard
Grandparents: Andrew J. Finlay and Clarissa Elizabeth Hair (1821-1865)
Great grandparents: Henry Hair (b. Dec. 3,1796 - d. Aug. 17, 1881) and Rebecca Rhinehart (b. 1804 - ?)